I walk into the jock’s room to clock in and talk to the guys. Security guards doing a retirement gig, valets who were once riders relegated back to taking care of the jockeys silks, etc. But, they are still in the game. – I speak with a few riders and love it when the young guys come in and greet you with a handshake and a hug. Lady riders are greeted with a smile and a fist bump. – Then at 10:45am, the back door opens and a smallish man with wispy blonde hair walks through the door. “Hey, Ed; as a big handshake follows. – I’ve got five mounts today so I can only win five.” Same line every day, and even more mounts on other days. He’s been doing it longer than most of the riders combined. Perry Ouzts is 70 years old and has a mount in the $75,000 Loyalty Stakes today as one of his two mounts. The wispy clouds dot a deep blue sky with nothing in the forecast except exciting horse racing and the opportunity to win a few bucks.

Nine live races. Eight Thoroughbred and one Quarter Horse event. Of the eight, two are $75,000 Stake races. The Miss Southern Ohio for F&M Accredited Ohio Breds and the Loyalty Stakes for two-year-old Accredited Ohio Foals. Perry had a mount on Just Like Rambo who was (3-5) when the gates sprung open. Only five betting interests, but a two-horse entry and a three-horse entry. – Ouzts was 2 wide in the 7path as he broke sharply and stayed just off the leader. He started to turn up the heat as the 3/8th pole drew near and rolled right on by with a measured hand in the reins. Something we’ve enjoyed over 7,438 times in his career. And for those keeping scores at home, Perry Wayne Ouzts is only 177 total mounts from ing Russell Baze in having the most mounts in history.

Ouzts made it look pretty damn easy if you ask me, and I was impressed like I’ve been the past 35 years watching him ride. – In his two mounts he had a second-place finish for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Eric Reed and one for his go-to-guy Larry Smith for Red Gate Farm, LLC. Just another day in the office as he seldom can be heard over a light whisper and treats it like a day at the office.

The only difference he is 70 years old. Some would be fishing, off to the beach, or just watching the ballgame on TV. – Not Perry. He is up at 5:30am, helping his wife Toni in the barn area working horses out, and off back home to clean up and have his half a sandwich and a cup of soup. This is what he loves. – I asked him the other day as our meeting is eight days from conclusion if he’d be back the next year. “Yeah, I think I’ll be riding a year or so. I’m gonna Russell Baze and I want to do it here. Then I’ll decide.” 

I shook his hand the next day and congratulated him. I watched a racing legend head to his corner of the jock’s room and start his daily process of getting ready. – If you’re ever at the track and wonder who comes out of the room first. It can only be the one and only Perry Wayne Ouzts.

Keep your eyes peeled as he is only 177 mounts away from Baze. He’s a long way from Lepanto, Arkansas where he and his racing family lived, and Beulah Park in Columbus, Ohio where he rode his first winner Rablu in 1973. He’s easy to see with a small pom-pom matching the cap color on his helmet and his rapid-fire use of the whip. Perry does his talking on the track and leaves the talking to the others who finish behind him.