Page 58 - 31 August 2012

Gilbert Ortiz in the winner’s circle with the connections of Coors Select following his victory in the Louisiana Juvenile at Delta Downs.
Ortiz and Champion Kool Kue Baby win the 1998 Refrigerator Handicap at Lone Star Park.
Jet-setting Jockey
Ortiz’s first multi-state day of success took place on Sept. 4, 2000, when he rode Fashionisanattitude to an impressive second-place finish in the All American Futurity-G1 for the late Steve VanBebber. He then flew out to Evangeline Downs where he rode multiple graded stakes winners Hez Not Too Shabby and Streakin Sin Tacha to wins.
Then, in 2001, Ortiz won the Heritage Futurity at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Rdustys Chick, then flew to Delta Downs to rack up wins on both Hez Not Too Shabby and War Colors, also a multiple graded stakes winner.
“Of course, my goal is to one day win the All American,” Ortiz said. “But winning those big races at two different tracks? Just winning a big race feels good, but winning more than that at two different tracks—that was a thrill!”
Fibs at FiFteen
Ortiz nearly ended his riding career before it started. His dad, Freddie, worked for the Texas Highway Department and on the side he shoed, trained and rode a few horses on the Texas circuit. “Horses were a hobby for him,” Ortiz said. “I went with him everywhere, and I’d help him out around the barn and hand walking.”
While at the track with his dad, Ortiz spent a lot of time in the jockeys’ room and watching the jocks ride. When Gilbert was 14, Freddie started putting him on horses to exercise them.
At age 15, Ortiz got his jockey’s license. “I kinda cheated a little bit—and believe me, I paid the price for it,” he said. “In July of 1978 I got hurt really bad and they found out about my age so the jockeys’ insurance didn’t pay for it.”
Having suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs, Ortiz said his mother asked him not to ride any more. But when he turned 16, he renewed his license...legally.
Ortiz and World Champion Tailor Fit win the 1999 Refrigerator Handicap at Lone Star Park.
56 SPEEDHORSE, August 31, 2012
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