Veteran jockey Ouzts moves win total to 6,470, ties Fires for 11th all-time at Belterra

Veteran jockey Perry Ouzts became the 11th leading rider in the history of racing on Sunday when he rode See Through to victory in the final race of the day at Belterra Park.

His victory total of 6,470 equaled the mark set by his cousin, Earlie Fires, who is now retired from the saddle. With every jockey he passed in the record book, Ouzts would answer that his ultimate goal was, “to be the leading rider in Rivervale, Arkansas,” a small town of 1,381, where he and Earlie grew up together. It is located adjacent to the Arkansas River and is a neighborhood of Little Rock.

“I thought I’d pass him yesterday or today as I was on a lot of live mounts,” said the 60-year-old reinsman as he headed to the jockey’s room, “There are no sure things in this game, but I have good people behind me and it will come.”

Ouzts will ride three horses at Indiana Downs on Wednesday and six at Belterra Park on Thursday.

After 42 years in the saddle Perry Ouzts still shows the exuberance of his teen years riding in Ohio and Northern Kentucky and has set a new goal.

“I’m not burned out, I get the same thrill every time I win a race – it is 7,000 or bust now,” he said.

Ouzts has overcome numerous serious injuries during his career, many that would have ended the riding days of most. He has ridden in 47,397 races to date and has won 30 riding titles at this Cincinnati oval.

And his biggest payday came over the turf course in the $200,000 Cradle Stakes aboard Old Man Buck. As the 11th leading rider in he is now has more wins that well-known jockeys like John Longden, Jerry Bailey, John Velazquez and Mike Smith.

From Belterra Communications