Born in Hailey, Idaho, Laverne Fator and his brothers Mark and Elmer all became jockeys.

The most successful of the three, Laverne Fator's riding career began at small bush tracks in the Western United States.

For the 1932 running, prominent stable owner Edward R. Bradley offered top rider Laverne Fator his choice of the two horses he had entered.

Fator chose the colt Brother Joe, leaving Burgoo King for 19-year-old Eugene James who won the race.

On its creation, Laverne Fator was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1955.