Career
He was from St. Petersburg, Virginia and became one of the nations top jockeys in the 1940s and 50s. Arnold Kirkland rode in the Kentucky Derby five times. His best finish was a 3rd on Hasseyanda in 1954.
lieutenant was on Escadru where he famously challenged Citation on the far turn in that years Belmont Stakes.
Kirkland and Escadru made a bold run where the lead was whittled to 2 lengths with just 3/8 of a mile to go. Kirland rode for many famous owners such as C. V. Whitney.
They included: the 1944 Delaware Handicap on Everget, the 1946 Massachusetts Handicap on Pavot and the Rhode Island Handicap of that year on Manitoba O" Glory. In 1948, he had two signature wins on Gallorette in the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course and Donor in the Narragansett Special at Narragansett Park just in the month of August.
His last Kentucky Derby mount was on Countermand in 1956 where he drew the #17 post, was extremely wide on the first turn, and came home last (17th) to Needles.
Arnold Kirkland died on March 15, 1969 and is buried at Woodland Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia).
