Jockey Perry Ouzts Rides 7,000th Winner
Description:
Photo: Coady Photography
Perry Ouzts with retired jockey Pat Day after he won the 7,000th race of his career Sept. 21 at Belterra Park
Jockey Perry Ouzts got his first victory in Ohio back in 1973 and won the 7,000th race of his career in the Buckeye State Sept. 21.
The milestone for the 64-year-old rider came aboard Emmy's Candy—owned and trained by R. Gary Patrick—in a state-bred allowance race at Belterra Park, and there wasn't much of a doubt from the start.
The 3-year-old Sidney's Candy filly shot to the front in the 6 1/2-furlong dirt test, opened up a 2 1/2-length lead through the first quarter, and romped to the wire to win by 10 1/2 lengths.
The rider who grew up in Arkansas riding horses with his cousin, Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires, won his first race in 1973 at Beulah Park aboard Rablu. He's ninth on the all-time wins list for jockeys and second on that list among active jockeys. Edgar Prado, who has 7,015 victories, is the only active jockey with more wins than Ouzts.
Ouzts' best year in earnings came in 2014, when he brought in $1,910,412 in purses. His best year in wins came in 2010, when he reached the winner's circle 271 times. This year he has 132 wins from 752 starts.
Ouzts is on record that he wants to ride until he passes Russell Baze for most mounts in a career. Baze retired with 53,578 mounts, and Ouzts now has 50,606.