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THE BACKSIDE
GILBERT ORTIZ
“Stay focused. Know your horses. Watch replays to see what you can do to improve and take advice, so you learn new things every day.”
A Jockey’s Perspective
by John Moorehouse
HOME BASE: Vinton, LA YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 42
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: Won the Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award in 2012, voted on by jockeys for a rider whose character on and off the track reflects positively on Quarter Horse racing. Won the Jacky Martin Award in 2016. Received a comeback award in 2000 after returning from a broken back.
FAVORITE HOBBY: Hunting and breaking baby horses.
For a professional jockey, injuries come with the job. Gilbert Ortiz has endured more than his fair share of major inju-
ries, but he shows no signs of slowing down. The Louisiana native is closing in on
his 20,000th career start. He’s also made more than 3,000 trips to the winner’s circle. Along the way, as mentioned, he’s dealt with some catastrophic injuries, at least two of which could have ended his career. In 1998, Ortiz broke his leg in a gate accident at
Sam Houston. It was a compound fracture; doctors told him the bone never would regenerate and that his riding career was finished. He beat the odds and returned
to action – only to suffer another major accident at Lone Star Park in late 1999, when he crushed two vertebrae, also fracturing his skull and breaking multiple facial bones.
I READ HOW YOU GOT INTO RACING AND RIDING TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF YOUR FATHER. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?
I would go with my dad every time he would go to the barn and to the race tracks. I loved messing with the horses and I still do. You have to love the sport.
I ALSO READ WHERE STEVE VANBEBBER WAS A MENTOR OF YOURS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER MENTORS IN THE HORSE RACING WORLD WHO HAVE HELPED YOU ALONG THE WAY? WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THESE MENTORS? John Stinebaugh, Heath Taylor and a few others. [I learned] hard work and dedication [and] knowing when to work horses.
WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE TRACK TO COMPETE, AND WHY?
Sam Houston Race Park and Delta Downs. I did well at these two tracks.
WHAT’S AN ACHIEVEMENT YOU’D LIKE TO REACH IN 2020?
My goal was to get 3,000 wins, which I did in 2015. I was planning on retiring when
I reached 3,000 wins, but needless to say I haven’t. I love it. My goals in 2020 are staying safe and healthy and winning big races.
WHAT IS YOUR ROUTINE ON A RACE DAY?
Gallop in the mornings, then mess with the few babies I have that I am breaking, then hit the steam room at the jocks’ room to loosen up.
WHO’S THE BEST HORSE YOU’VE RIDDEN, AND WHY?
I have ridden a lot of good horses: Kool Kue Baby, Vals Fortune, Heza Louisiana Dash, First Kool Baby, Tailor Fit, War Colors, Let There Be Sound. That’s just a few. There are just too many to name, but the ones that stand out the most are Kool Kue Baby, Vals Fortune and Tailor Fit.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY AS A PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY?
In 2000, I ran second in the All American Futurity. Then me, Steve VanBebber, Janet VanBebber, and Taylor VanBebber got on a small plane and went to Lafayette, Louisiana, where we won the Breeders’ Futurity and the Consolation all on the same day.
WHAT’S SOMETHING ABOUT BEING
A JOCKEY THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW OR DON’T REALIZE?
You have to love it. It is a very dangerous profession – a lot of traveling and being away from family.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION
OF JOCKEYS?
You have to be willing to work hard no mat- ter what the weather is. Stay focused. Know your horses. Watch replays to see what you can do to improve and take advice, so you learn new things every day.
Gilbert Ortiz was the second Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award winner in 2012.
122 SPEEDHORSE April 2020