About Ira Hanford
Lived 1918 – 2009 (aged 91). Ira Hanford was an American jockey.
Ira G. "Babe" Hanford (February 24, 1918 – November 21, 2009) was an American jockey. He rode the winning horse in the 1936 Kentucky Derby.
Biography He was born in Fairbury, Nebraska, and was Jewish. Hanford became involved in racing after being given his first mount in 1935 by Mary Hirsch.
He rode the winning horse Bold Venture in the 1936 Kentucky Derby. The colt he rode while still an apprentice was owned and bred by Morton L. Schwartz and trained by Hall of Fame inductee, Max Hirsch.
His career was interrupted by four years of service with the United States Army during World War II.
Ira Hanford died of cancer on November 21, 2009, in Ocala, Florida at age 91. He was the brother of Kelso's Hall of Fame trainer, Carl Hanford.
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Important facts
People in Ira Hanford's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Ira Hanford?
jockey
When was Ira Hanford born?
Ira Hanford was born on 24 February 1918 in Fairbury.
When did Ira Hanford die?
Ira Hanford died on 21 November 2009 in Ocala, Florida.
What was Ira Hanford's occupation?
Ira Hanford was a jockey.
What nationality was Ira Hanford?
Ira Hanford was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ira Hanford. https://biography.guide/ira-hanford/
MLA: "Ira Hanford." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ira-hanford/.
Chicago: "Ira Hanford." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ira-hanford/.
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