YONKERS, N.Y. John Wirchainski, a thoroughbred race horse jockey whose career took him to tracks in Hialeah, Fla., Saratoga, N.Y., and almost to the Kentucky Derby, died of congestive heart failure while on vacation July 4 in Dublin, Ohio. He was 87.
Born in Yonkers on Aug. 12, 1924, to Ukrainian immigrants, Wirchainski was working as a caddie at the Dunwoodie Golf Club when friends suggested he was the perfect size 5-foot-2 to be a jockey. Wirchainski embraced his diminutive stature and launched his career as a jockey at the Saratoga Rack Track in 1950. Riding a horse named Circled, he won his first race. He attended Longfellow Junior High and Saunders Technical School in Yonkers.
"Our Uncle was an avid and accomplished golfer, knew all about thoroughbred horses and loved his family very much," niece Janice Guardino said. "He enjoyed the simple pleasures in life and his kind and generous spirit will always be remembered."
Wirchainskis riding career spanned almost 15 years. He rode at tracks around the country, including Old Tropical Park, Hialeah Race Track and Gulfstream Park in South Florida. In 1956, Wirchainski rode the winning horse with the longest odds of the New York racing season at Old Jamaica Race Track. Six years later, he earned the opportunity to race in the Kentucky Derby on Sir Gaylord, who was favored to win but was injured just before the race.
Wirchainski is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Evelyn; his son, John Lawrence Wirchainski, several nieces and a nephew.
"When Uncle Wirchy came to Yonkers to visit, our mother would prepare all of the foods that he liked," niece Cynthia Vicinanza said. "He liked grilled spareribs and my mother's homemade barbeque sauce. Uncle Wirchy loved to tell his adventures about being a jockey to our family. His sisters, Anna, Mary and Rose, and his mother, Fanny, beamed with pride. My mother would cry when he said he had to leave Yonkers and return to the jockey circuit. She worried that he may be thrown from a horse and injured during a race."
Wirchainski retired from riding in 1964 and worked in the money rooms (betting rooms) at the Hialeah, Gulfstream and Calder race tracks before officially retiring in 1988.
John Wirchainski said his father loved his career and remained an avid race fan and bettor.
He was completely devoted to racing and seeing it continue, his son said.
Aside from horse racing, Wirchainski enjoyed golfing and crabbing. He often golfed with famous jockeys, including Eddie Arcaro and Willie Shoemaker. He was honored in 2000 with a special race named for him at Saratoga to mark 50 years since riding his first winner. John and Evelyn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 2011.
"Our Uncle was generous and kind," niece Carol Dicicco said. "Each summer, he sent our parents, Mary [John's sister] and Daniel D'Ambrosia, a large box of zucchini and tomatoes that he grew on his farm in Dublin, Ohio. He was proud that he was able to grow such large vegetables and boasted that he was a jockey that had turned into a farmer. Uncle Wirchy was very generous and always helped any family member in need. He was an excellent son and brother." Wirchainski's funeral was held Monday in Dublin, where the Wirchainskis had a summer vacation home. Donations in Wirchainskis name can be made to The John Wirchainski Nursing Scholarship Fund at Riverside Methodist Hospital: Ohio Health Foundation, 180 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.
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