Perry Ouzts posts 6,000th career victory

Perry Ouzts became the 17th jockey in North American racing history to ride 6,000 winners when he booted home Tanner Me Boy in the second race Saturday at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Tanner Me Boy, trained by Ohio-based Dougie Cowans, returned $6.60 with his two-length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong race for $5,000 claimers.

Ouzts, 58, is the fourth-leading active rider in wins, behind Russell Baze (1st overall), Edgar Prado (9th), and Mario Pino (10th).

Ouzts, a native of Riverdale, Ark., said in a lengthy interview last year with Daily Racing Form that he has no set timetable for retirement. “I don’t see the end anytime soon,” he said.

The next jockey on the all-time list ahead of Ouzts in No. 16 with 6,032 wins is the late John Longden, who once held the all-time wins mark before being passed by Bill Shoemaker.