Earl Dew

Who was Earl Dew?

Earl Dew was an American Champion jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing who was being hailed as one of the most promising riders of his generation when he died at age nineteen as a result of a racing accident.

Earl Dew was born in Sac City, Iowa, the son of Mable Hass and her husband, John Dew. His father raced horses in the Midwestern United States and Earl learned to ride at an early age. He began his professional career in 1937 and by 1938 was making a name for himself when he competed at tracks such as Sportsman's Park in Chicago. Later that year, Earl Dew was the leading rider at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans until he was sidelined with a broken leg as a result of a November 29 racing accident. In 1939, Earl Dew rode at Santa Anita Park, Bay Meadows and Tanforan in California, plus at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico.