Background
Vance Longden was the son of United States. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden and his first wife, Helen.
Vance Longden was the son of United States. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden and his first wife, Helen.
He was raised around horses and apprenticed with trainer William Molter.
At age twenty-three, Vance Longden was training on his own and using his father to ride some of his horses. In 1961 Vance Longden had two starters in the Kentucky Derby, both finishing off the board. Vance Londgen battled throat cancer for several years and eventually was only able to speak through the use of a voice box.
His illness forced his reirement from racing and he was living in Arcadia, California at the time of his death in 2003.