Clarence Picou was from Port Acres, Texas, and came from a very large family of 16 siblings. His younger brother, Jimmy Picou, followed him into the professional jockey world and later into the professional thoroughbred horse training industry.

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Clarence and his brother Jimmy both had a small stature ideal for jockeys, and they began learning about horse racing from local farmers and horse owners. As a teenager, Clarence started his racing career riding in match races throughout Southeast Texas. The brothers competed across Texas and at a Louisiana track later known as Delta Downs.

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Clarence began his professional career at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans on January 1, 1948, winning his first race on January 13 aboard Border Sis. During a 13-day meet at Bowie Park in Maryland, he rode three winners in one day on five separate occasions — and once rode five winners in a single day. On June 24, 1948, at Narragansett Park, he achieved a remarkable feat by winning all five of his mounts. Betting was so heavy on a couple of those races that the track reportedly lost money on two of his wins.

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He was named the Leading Apprentice Jockey of 1948 and finished second nationally with over 250 wins — behind only the legendary Johnny Longden, who led the standings with 270 wins. Clarence rode at major tracks from Louisiana to New York. His accomplishments drew national attention, earning him feature stories in Time magazine (December 6, 1948) and Life magazine (December 27, 1948).

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After being drafted into the U.S. Army, Clarence served two years during the Korean War (1953–54). He returned briefly to racing and ended his riding career in March 1957 at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans — fittingly, on a winning mount.

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Following a short break from the sport, Picou returned in the early 1960s as a thoroughbred trainer. His first winning horse as a trainer came in 1963 at Jefferson Downs in New Orleans. Over the next three decades, he established himself as a respected and successful trainer. Among his notable winners were Jim’s Orbit (TX), who won the Ohio Derby at Thistledown and the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs in 1988 — earning a spot in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 10th; Eskimo’s Angel, who captured the Louisiana Breeders’ Cup in 1992 and the Louisiana Matchmaker in 1994; and Free Spirit’s Joy (LA), who won the 1991 Grade I Super Derby at Louisiana Downs at 28–1 odds. He also trained multiple other stakes winners, including Saintly Prospector (winner of the Omaha Gold Cup) and Darby’s Daughter (winner of the Miss Grillo Stakes in New York).

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Professional Jockey Statistics (1948–1951)

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Starts (Mounts)        Wins           2nd           3rd          Horse Earnings

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       2,113                    360              281         250               $748,385

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In 2022 dollars, his 1951 horse earnings would equal approximately $8.4 million.
(Jockeys typically earned about 10% of the horse’s winnings.)

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Professional Thoroughbred Trainer Statistics (1963–1998)

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Starts                 Wins (1st)               2nd             3rd           Total Earnings

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5,929                       884                     871            763              $7,691,662

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Including 51 stakes winners and five graded winners.

In 2022 dollars, his horses’ combined earnings would equal approximately $28 million.
(Trainers typically earned about 10% of the horse owner’s winnings.)

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Top Horses Trained by Clarence Picou

• Free Spirit’s Joy – Winner of the Grade 1 Louisiana Super Derby (1991), Louisiana-bred.

• Jim’s Orbit – Winner of the Grade 2 Ohio Derby and 2nd in the Illinois Derby (1988); Texas-bred; also won the Derby Trial and ran in the Kentucky Derby.

• Saintly Prospector – Winner of the Omaha Gold Cup.

• Darby’s Daughter – Winner of the Miss Grillo Stakes (New York).