Eleanor Roosevelt as soon as proclaimed, “Stunning younger persons are accidents of nature, however stunning outdated persons are artistic endeavors.” Not many individuals would contemplate the ripe age of 36 to be outdated, however on the earth of sports activities it’s.
Serafin Carmona, a longtime train rider turned 36-year-old apprentice jockey, is one other shining instance that it’s by no means too late in life to change into what you need to be.
Carmona presently sits in second place within the rider standings at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., and is headed again out west to Santa Anita Park to compete within the fall meet beginning Friday, Sept. 27.
“I used to be dwelling my life, doing what I really like,” stated Carmona, who was an train rider in Southern California for greater than a decade. “However I all the time felt in my coronary heart that I might make it [as a jockey]. I by no means thought of my age.”
All of this bought us questioning what athletes in different sports activities didn’t permit age to get in the best way of a dream as they pursued turning into a rookie of their respective sport regardless of any perceived age limitations.
Hockey: Bob Barlow grew to become the oldest rookie to ever play within the Nationwide Hockey League when he debuted at age 34 for the Minnesota North Stars on Oct. 11, 1969. He scored on a 30-foot shot, beating the Philadelphia Flyers goalie Bernie Father or mother within the first minute of his first recreation.
To not be outdone, Cornelius “Connie” Madigan made his NHL debut on Feb. 6, 1973, with the St. Louis Blues at age 38. Nicknamed “Mad Canine,” not solely did Madigan play 20 common season video games as a defenseman for the injury-riddled Blues, he performed in 5 playoff video games that season. Madigan later appeared within the film “Slap Shot” as Ross “Mad Canine” Madison.
Soccer: Ola Kimrin grew to become the oldest rookie to ever play in a Nationwide Soccer League recreation on the age of 32, when he performed 5 video games for the Washington Redskins in 2004. Kimrin’s report subsequently was handed by a few Australian-born punters: Ben Graham was a number of months older than Kimrin when he debuted for the New York Jets in 2005 and Sav Rocca made his first begin for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007 at age 34.
The oldest first-round choice in NFL historical past was quarterback Brandon Weeden, who was 28 years outdated when the Cleveland Browns drafted him out of Oklahoma State College.
Baseball: Satchel Paige was formally listed at age 42 when he grew to become the oldest rookie in American League historical past for the Cleveland Indians in 1948. Nevertheless, many estimated Paige to truly be in his 50s when this occurred. He appeared in 21 video games and helped Cleveland win the pennant with a 6-1 report. Paige, after all, was a former star within the Negro leagues. He as soon as stated, “Age is a query of thoughts over matter.”
The Kansas Metropolis A’s inked Paige to a one-day contract in 1965, however he didn’t view the Sept. 25 MLB look as a gimmick and gave up only one hit towards the Boston Purple Sox over three innings. Paige was inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1971.
Basketball: Pablo Prigioni grew to become the oldest rookie within the historical past of the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation when the purpose guard made his debut with the New York Knicks in 2012 at age 35. Previous to that, the Argentine was a member of his nation’s nationwide staff and received a bronze medal within the 2008 Olympic Video games. Prigioni additionally had a profitable profession enjoying professionally in Europe and was a two-time All-Euro League choice.
Serafin Carmona is an inspiration and horse racing followers can look ahead to watching him proceed to pursue his desires this fall at Santa Anita Park.
Cartoonist Charles Schulz supplied, “Simply bear in mind, as soon as you might be over the hill you start to choose up velocity.” If that’s true, in a sport that’s all about velocity, you simply may need to place a wager on Serafin Carmona at Santa Anita Park.
