Vernon
Bush
Born: August 13, 1961
Birthplace: Methuen, MA
Residence: Boston, MA
Family: Son, Vernon Michael; daughter Karla
First Win: River Downs, 1978
Started Riding:
Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Suffolk Downs
|
Year
|
Starts
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Earnings
|
W rank
|
W %
|
ITM %
|
|
2006-2007 meet
|
334
|
28
|
38
|
40
|
$431,131
|
10th
|
8.4%
|
30.1%
|
|
2005-2006 meet
|
352
|
35
|
41
|
30
|
$436,963
|
7th
|
10%
|
30%
|
Vernon Bush learned the art of race riding by following in the footsteps of his father, Vernon, Sr., who was one of New England's top riders in the 1940s and 1950s. Bush was born in Methuen, MA, while his father, a native of Kentucky, was based at Suffolk Downs. The young Vernon Bush enjoyed instant success at Suffolk, earning five riding titles over a two-year span in the early 1980s. Bush has won over 2,600 races, more than $18 million in purse earnings and 34 stakes races in his lengthy career. In 2002, Bush lost 40 pounds to return to the saddle after a brief time away from riding. He credits his agent, Lisa Welsh, and the Miami Protein Diet for getting him back in the game. Bush left the Tampa Bay Downs jockey colony as the tenth leading rider, having escorted 28 to the winner’s circle throughout the 2006-2007 meet.