All-around horsemen Walter Hodges dead at 81

Walter Hodges, a noted Quarter Horse jockey who later trained Thoroughbreds, died Monday in Chickasha, Okla., according to his brother, Dale Hodges. Walter Hodges was 81.

Dale Hodges said his brother died from complications that arose due to circulation issues in his left leg.

Walter Hodges competed as a jockey for about 30 years, among his high points in the saddle was winning the 1970 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs aboard the filly Go Together.

“Walter rode a little at Ak-Sar-Ben, but most of his success was at Ruidoso riding Quarter Horses,” said Dale Hodges. “He started when he was 16.”

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After retiring from riding, Walter Hodges turned to training and was largely based at Remington Park. In his later years, he was an outrider at the Oklahoma track.

“He spent most of his life on the track,” said Dale Hodges. “One of his great loves was horses – on top of them or underneath them, riding them or rubbing them. He always wanted to be around horses.”

Dale Hodges said Walter Hodges is named for their grandfather, who was a trainer, and their father, Percy, also trained, spending time in Nebraska and at Oaklawn Park. Omar Hall, their maternal grandfather, and Leon Hall, the brother of their mom, Doris, are both in the Nebraska Horse Racing Hall of Fame, said Dale Hodges.

Walter Hodges is survived by his wife, Sue, and three daughters, Dawn, Kristi, and Tuesdee.

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