American fans for the first time were able to watch the live telecast of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes. Through the new type of personalized racing coverage that began introducing jockeys to a nationwide audience, NBC broadcaster Win Elliott interviewed Guerin after he rode the still-undefeated Native Dancer to victory. Guerin and Native Dancer appeared invincible as they headed to Churchill Downs for the first of the U.S. Triple Crown races. Shocked fans, both in the stands and on television, watched as the colt finished second after being bumped by another horse early in the race. Native Dancer never lost another race and went on to capture the next two legs of the Triple Crown series, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The following year Guerin rode Native Dancer to the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year honors, and for himself, made it back-to-back Belmont wins by riding High Gun to victory in the 1954 classic. In 1972, Guerin was still riding when he was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Three years later, at age fifty-one, after a thirty-four-year career that produced 2,712 winners, he retired. After moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1989, Guerin worked as a mutuels clerk at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park. In 1991, Guerin was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame. He developed a blood disorder and died of heart complications in 1993 at sixty-eight. His ashes were spread amongst the flower beds in the winner's circle at Gulfstream Park. Guerin's Hall of Fame contemporary, Eddie Arcaro, asserted: "There was no better rider than Eric." References 1924 births 1993 deaths Cajun jockeys American jockeys United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees People from Maringouin, Louisiana