Turfway Park will honor veteran rider Perry Ouzts Jan. 6, naming the day's fourth race for the 62-year-old jockey and celebrating his achievements in a winner's circle ceremony. The track announced it would hold 'Perry Ouzts Day' to bolster a grassroots effort to bring the rider's career to the attention of the National Racing Hall of Fame.
Ouzts ranks 11th by career wins among all North American jockeys in history. Through Jan. 1, he has ridden 48,900 races in his 43-year career, with 6,712 wins and earnings of $42,643,792.
“Turfway is proud to honor Perry and support efforts to see him nominated to the Hall of Fame,” said Turfway Park general manager Daniel “Chip” Bach. “The effort has been entirely fan-driven, a true testimony to Perry's popularity with fans, bettors and horsemen alike.”
Florence, Kentucky resident Nadia Greenidge, who met the jockey after watching a documentary about his career, is the fan leading the Hall of Fame charge.
“I decided to meet him in person and I was not disappointed,” she said. “He was very kind and welcoming, and as I learned more about his riding record I knew it was the right thing for Perry Ouzts to be in the Hall of Fame. He's a great jockey and a gentleman, and he absolutely belongs.”
Of the 10 jockeys ranked above Ouzts, only two, Edgar Prado (eighth) and Mario Pino (10th), are still active and only one, Russell Baze (first), has ridden more races. All but one of the 10 are already in the Hall of Fame.
As part of Friday's festivities at Turfway, a silent auction of memorabilia signed by the jockey will be held to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
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