Billy Pearson

Bill Austin Pearson (May 19, 1920 – November 28, 2002) was an American jockey in thoroughbred horse racing, a quiz-show winner, an art expert and dealer and an actor. He is credited with 826 victories in his horse racing career.

Life and riding career Bill Austin Pearson was born on May 19, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Pasadena, California when he was five years old. During the depression, he quit school and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he became a flyweight boxer. Due to his dismal record, the director of the Corps informed him; "try something else kid, before you get killed, you're about the right size for a jockey". Pearson took the advice and got a job at the Le Mar Stock Farm at Santa Anita as a stable boy and hot walker.