William J. Knapp (August 21, 1888 – October 26, 1972) was an American
thoroughbredhorse racingHall of Famejockey.[1] He was known for racing horses such as Exterminator and Sun Briar. He became the jockey for Exterminator in the
1918 Kentucky Derby. He was expecting to race Sun Briar, an extremely fast colt, but Sun Briar became ill and he had no choice but to race Exterminator, Sun Briar's training horse. However, Exterminator won the Derby and Knapp became his lifelong jockey.[2]
Knapp is also well remembered as the jockey aboard the aptly named
Upset on August 13, 1919, when he handed the legendary
Man o' War his only defeat in the
Sanford Memorial Stakes.[3]
Among his many success as a jockey, during a period of less than a month in 1907 Knapp guided
Charles Edward to three
track records including a
World record. In a 1910 history of the feat, the Daily Racing Form wrote that Charles Edward "gave in the
Seagate one of the most amazing displays of high-class speed ever witnessed."[4]