Horse Racing Jockey. He won his first Thoroughbred horse race in 1940. He rode as a jockey for over twelve years. In the middle of his racing career, in 1946, he became the seventh jockey to ever win the triple crown. He captured the triple crown riding Assault. With Mehrtens in the saddle, Assault lost the Derby trial by over four lengths. That loss resulted in him being an outsider for the Derby at 8-1 odds. Mehrtens and Assault went on to win the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths placing them as the favorite for the Preakness where he won by only a neck. They then went on to the Belmont where Assault's odds dropped to 7-5. At the start Assault stumbled out of the gate causing him to trail the field throughout most of the race. At the furlong pole (just 220 yards to go) Mehrtens pushed Assault and he rallied. He finished by three lengths. After winning the triple crown he continued to ride as a jockey for six more years. He is credited with winning 614 races. In 1952 he became a racing steward at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and later served at Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware. In 1973 he became a steward for the New York Racing Association.
Horse Racing Jockey. He won his first Thoroughbred horse race in 1940. He rode as a jockey for over twelve years. In the middle of his racing career, in 1946, he became the seventh jockey to ever win the triple crown. He captured the triple crown riding Assault. With Mehrtens in the saddle, Assault lost the Derby trial by over four lengths. That loss resulted in him being an outsider for the Derby at 8-1 odds. Mehrtens and Assault went on to win the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths placing them as the favorite for the Preakness where he won by only a neck. They then went on to the Belmont where Assault's odds dropped to 7-5. At the start Assault stumbled out of the gate causing him to trail the field throughout most of the race. At the furlong pole (just 220 yards to go) Mehrtens pushed Assault and he rallied. He finished by three lengths. After winning the triple crown he continued to ride as a jockey for six more years. He is credited with winning 614 races. In 1952 he became a racing steward at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and later served at Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware. In 1973 he became a steward for the New York Racing Association.
Bio by: Harvey Martin Joseph Abbott
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