"He was a beautiful, wonderful man. When people die everybody says nice things, but believe me, when he was alive people would have told you the same."
-- retired Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr.

"Bill Shoemaker, pound-for-pound, was one of the best athletes of the 20th century with a rare combination of poise, grace and courage. He was an ambassador for our game and the entire sport will miss him."
-- Tim Smith,commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

"It is very rare when someone can unequivocally be categorized as the best in the world. Bill Shoemaker at the pinnacle of his career was the best in theworld."
-- Nick Nicholson, president of Keeneland racetrack in Kentucky.

"There's no way I would have been able to survive as long as Bill did in the condition that he was in. It's just further testimony to his character and his fortitude. It's just an incredible loss."
-- retired Hall of Fame jockeyand Santa Anita racetrack general manager Chris McCarron.

"Shoe had his ups and downs, and to be paralyzed for the last 12 years of his life, well, sometimes life isn't fair, but he was one of the toughest guys you'll ever meet. I'll miss him."
-- retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, a Shoemaker friend for 25 years.