John L. Rotz
Encyclopedia
John L. Rotz is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing
jockey
and an active World Champion in Western riding
competitions.
After graduating high school in 1952, Rotz went to work at Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville, Illinois
. After working as a groom
, hot walker, and exercise rider, he began riding professionally in 1953. Nicknamed "Gentleman John" because of his polite demeanor, he gained a reputation for being able to handle temperamental Thoroughbreds.
During a 20-year riding career, John Rotz won many of the most important races across the United States, and in 1969 and 1970, he won more stakes races than any other jockey in American racing. He earned two wins in the American Classic Races, the first coming in 1962 when he rode Greek Money
to victory in the Preakness Stakes
, A year earlier, he had finished second in the Preakness aboard Globemaster
and earned another second place finish in 1968 with King Ranch's Out of the Way. He got his second Classic race win aboard High Echelon
in the 1970 Belmont Stakes
.
In 1973, John Rotz was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
, given to a jockey in North America
who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.. He retired from riding that year following surgery for a foot injury, but he remained active in the industry, working for ten years as a racing steward at various racetracks in Louisiana, Ohio, Delaware and New York. While working at Thistledown Racecourse in North Randall, Ohio
in 1975, he met his wife, Mary, whose sister was a horse trainer
at the track.
John Rotz retired as a racing steward on March 31, 1983.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E6DF1039F935A15750C0A965948260 He and his wife returned to his native Warrensburg, Illinois where they purchased a 280 acres (1.1 km²) farm. Mary Rotz became involved with the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife
through her Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation program while John turned to riding Quarter horse
s in Western riding
competitions. In 1987, he won the National Reining Horse Association Novice Horse Non-Pro World Championship. Nearly 25 years later, and in his mid-seventies, he is still riding and competing in cutting horse competitions at the Illinois State Fair and other shows in the Midwest. He also is a frequent participant in special fundraising events with other active and retired top jockeys to support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
John Rotz was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1983.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and an active World Champion in Western riding
Western riding
Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved from the ranching and warfare traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors, and both equipment and riding style evolved to meet the working needs of the cowboy in the American West...
competitions.
After graduating high school in 1952, Rotz went to work at Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville, Illinois
Collinsville, Illinois
Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area...
. After working as a groom
Groom (horses)
A groom is a person who is responsible for some or all aspects of the management of horses and/or the care of the stables themselves. The term most often refers to a person who is the employee of a stable owner, but even an owner of a horse may perform the duties of a groom, particularly if the...
, hot walker, and exercise rider, he began riding professionally in 1953. Nicknamed "Gentleman John" because of his polite demeanor, he gained a reputation for being able to handle temperamental Thoroughbreds.
During a 20-year riding career, John Rotz won many of the most important races across the United States, and in 1969 and 1970, he won more stakes races than any other jockey in American racing. He earned two wins in the American Classic Races, the first coming in 1962 when he rode Greek Money
Greek Money
Greek Money was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes. Out of the English mare, Lucy Lufton, he was sired by Greek Song whose wins included the 1950 Arlington Classic...
to victory in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, A year earlier, he had finished second in the Preakness aboard Globemaster
Globemaster
Globemaster is the name of three separate airlifters, produced by Douglas Aircraft Company or its successors:...
and earned another second place finish in 1968 with King Ranch's Out of the Way. He got his second Classic race win aboard High Echelon
High Echelon
High Echelon was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1970 Belmont Stakes. Bred by the partnership of Isidor Bieber and owner/trainer Hirsch Jacobs, his sire was the 1965 Florida Derby winner Native Charger who was a son of U.S...
in the 1970 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
.
In 1973, John Rotz was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
The George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award has been presented by Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, annually since 1950 to the thoroughbred horse racing jockey in North America who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.The award was created...
, given to a jockey in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.. He retired from riding that year following surgery for a foot injury, but he remained active in the industry, working for ten years as a racing steward at various racetracks in Louisiana, Ohio, Delaware and New York. While working at Thistledown Racecourse in North Randall, Ohio
North Randall, Ohio
North Randall is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1027 at the 2010 census.-Geography:North Randall is located at ....
in 1975, he met his wife, Mary, whose sister was a horse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
at the track.
John Rotz retired as a racing steward on March 31, 1983.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E6DF1039F935A15750C0A965948260 He and his wife returned to his native Warrensburg, Illinois where they purchased a 280 acres (1.1 km²) farm. Mary Rotz became involved with the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
through her Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation program while John turned to riding Quarter horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
s in Western riding
Western riding
Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved from the ranching and warfare traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors, and both equipment and riding style evolved to meet the working needs of the cowboy in the American West...
competitions. In 1987, he won the National Reining Horse Association Novice Horse Non-Pro World Championship. Nearly 25 years later, and in his mid-seventies, he is still riding and competing in cutting horse competitions at the Illinois State Fair and other shows in the Midwest. He also is a frequent participant in special fundraising events with other active and retired top jockeys to support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
John Rotz was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 1983.