Charles John "Chick" Language was a Canadian Hall of Fame jockey who became a Champion rider in the United States and who won the most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race of both countries.
Background
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, the son of Emma and Charles Percival Language, he was almost always known by the nickname "Chick." At age fifteen he began riding locally until American racing stable owner James Arthur recognized his potential and signed him to a contract to compete at major racetracks in the United States.
Career
He made his American debut at the Havre de Grace Racetrack in Maryland in April 1921 and went on to overcome the long lead held by Benny Marinelli to become the leading rider in the United States in 1921 with 192 wins. In 1922, Language picked up where he left off, winning eighteen races in the first nine racing days in January at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. The January 30, 1922 edition of the Pittsburgh Press newspaper wrote that "Many racing experts cr Language with being the best jockey since Tod Sloan." This high accolade came at a time when Language was competing against racing greats such as Earl Sande, Jimmy Butwell, Laverne Fator, Clarence Kummer, Linus McAtee and Ivan Parke, among others
When the New Orleans racing season ended, Language headed north to compete at Pimlico Race Course and Havre de Grace in Maryland, Jamaica Racetrack, Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park in New New York
In May 1922, oil baron and stable owner Joshua Cosden purchased Chick Language"s contract for a record United States$25,000. Chick Language, Junior. was involved in the sport of horse racing.
He gained wide respect for the job he did during the twenty-seven years he served as general manager of Pimlico Race Course. Following a lengthy Illness, Chick Language died on June 14, 1947 at age forty-one in Wilmington, Delaware where he had been training at Delaware Park.
Chick Language was inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1990.