Page 139 - February 2016 Speedhorse

War Colors (Grade 1 winner), and Dashin Bye were all great horses. It’s difficult to stop there because I’ve ridden so many good horses.
Your father, alfred ortiz Sr., waS a jockeY and a trainer; did You know at an earlY age that You wanted to follow in Your father’S footStepS?
My dad rode even though it was more of
a hobby for him. He had a few horses and he worked for the Texas Highway Department. My brothers galloped for him, but they didn’t enjoy it. Once my brothers graduated from school, they got jobs and got away from the horse business, but I loved it. I would follow my dad around, go in the jocks room and take everything in. My dad put me on horses to gal- lop, so I rode for him and his friends. As I got older, I moved around a little bit and eventually went out on my own. Once I went out on my own, my dad stopped riding and training.
I always loved the horses. I would watch my dad ride and watch the other riders to learn everything I could from them. My dad had me gallop, groom and clean stalls, but he wouldn’t let me (race) ride until I had worked hard and learned how to do it properly, and then he turned me loose. I love the horses, I love the speed and I love the adrenaline.
You have Suffered Some SeriouS injurieS in Your career; can You Share how You came back from a SeverelY broken leg in 1998 and a broken back the following Year?
I had a compound fracture of my ankle and had a rod and screws inserted. The surgeon said I had stopped producing bone. I used a stimulator every day to increase blood flow and ate a lot of broccoli and blueberries and stayed away from caffeinated drinks. I went back to the doctor five weeks later and needed more time. I went back in six more weeks, 11 weeks total, and the x-ray showed that bone had grown back. The x-ray was solid white.
The next year, I qualified two for the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 at Lone Star—BK Runner and Gone Kool Man. Just a few days before the race, I broke my back. The horses ran first and second and Joe Badilla (who rode BK Runner) gave me 7.5 percent of his winning share and Brossette (aboard Gone Kool Man) also took care of me.
The doctor couldn’t believe my recovery from the broken back and said anytime you shatter your T6 and T7 you are almost always left paralyzed. They did the surgery, that was a new procedure at the time, on a Friday and on that following Monday I was walking around. I was in bed for 19 days straight before that.
After the surgery, I asked the doctor how long it would be before I could get back on a horse and he said six months. I thought I might be out a year or more. The doctor couldn’t believe it. He said my bones are really tough. I have been blessed in my life and in my career. I knew I could get back, but it was tough.
You have ridden for manY horSemen through the YearS, but You were eSpeciallY SucceSSful with the late Steve vanbebber. tell uS a little about Steve.
I had a record 81 wins riding for Steve at Sam Houston in 1997. One night, we had seven horses in and won six of seven there.
I miss him a lot. Steve took care of me. He held a big benefit for me when I broke my leg and he sold some horses and helped me through that time. Steve and (wife) Janet took care of me.
what doeS the future hold for You on the racetrack?
I go day-by-day and hope I come back safely. Right now, I am breaking babies. I have 10 or 11 right now for some clients. This is what I like doing, plus I am riding for certain trainers. I am more selective these days, I guess you could say. I still gallop a bunch. It’s hard
to say no to certain trainers who have good horses. Someone has to ride them.
what iS Your beSt advice for a Young rider?
There are a lot of young riders today that need a lot more work. They win a couple of races and they think they know more than
the rest of us (experienced) riders. It is seven days a week, day in and day out. Every day you have to be there to gallop horses. To some, it seems like a hobby, but it’s a job for me, and it requires a lot of dedication and hard work.
Gilbert Ortiz wins the 1999 Sam Houston Classic aboard Tailor Fit
Gilbert with family and friends after winning the 2012 Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award
Janet, TaylorAnne & Steve VanBebber with Gilbert Ortiz after winning the 2000 AQHA Distaff Challenge aboard Kool Kue Baby
SPEEDHORSE, February 2016 137
THE BACKSIDE
Stacy Pigott
Janet Van Bebber
Coady Photography