24-07-2025
71-Year-Old Jockey Perry Ouzts Approaching New Record
71-Year-Old Jockey Perry Ouzts Approaching New Record originally appeared on Paulick Report.
"Ironman" jockey Perry Ouzts, 71, will start a new record for starts in a Thoroughbred horse race in this Saturday's fifth race at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The veteran jockey will enter the starting gate for a 53,579th time, eclipsing the previous record set by retired California-based rider Russell Baze. At this writing, Ouzts sports a record of 53,570 starts– 7,514 wins – 7,013 seconds – 6,694 thirds, for earnings of $53,055,913. The next active rider is Hall of Famer John Velazquez with 37,363 mounts and 6,703 is also the record holder as the oldest jockey to win a race in North America — a feat he accomplished last summer.
Ouzts has spent most of his career riding in Northern Kentucky and Ohio. Though he has never won a graded stakes race, he was the subject of an award-winning 2015 documentary "Ironman Perry Ouzts," produced by the Hennegan ranks fifth all-time in wins, trailing only Russell Baze (12,842 wins), Laffit Pincay Jr. (9,530), William Shoemaker (8,833), and Pat Day (8,803).Ouzts told John Engelhardt that loyalty has been a key factor in his success. He credits the support of trainers W.J. Danner, Larry Holt, Joe Woodard, Bill Connelly, Matt Kordenbrock, Barb Riley and Larry Smith for the many winners they have put him up on.
He has also had the same agent, Jamie Fowler, for 38 years. Fowler contracted throat cancer in February of 2023 and has undergone 50 radiation treatments, several surgeries, and 10 months of physical therapy. This week, Fowler was declared cancer-free. According to Ouzts: 'I asked if he could still do the job from home when it was discovered, and with texting, video replays and other on-line features, he hasn't missed a beat.'
He has won 35 meet titles at River Downs/Belterra Park, 13 titles at the now defunct, Beulah Park and 2 titles at Turfway Park.
He won the last race at River Downs and the first race there under its new name Belterra Park.
He was the first jockey to win a stakes race at 70 years old.
His richest races won were the $200,000 Cradle Stakes (2007), the $100,000 Queen City Oaks (1988) and the $100,000 Green Carpet Stakes (this season).
He won four races on a horse named Oats N' Ouzts.
He and his wife, Toni have two sons – Kyle (35) and Tyler (32).
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
