Hall of Fame jockey John Rotz dead at 86

John Rotz, a Hall of Fame jockey who notably rode champions Gallant Bloom and Ta Wee, died on Monday at his home in Warrensburg, Ill., according to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Rotz was 86.

When Rotz retired in 1973, at the age of 39, he had ridden 2,907 winners, good for 15th best at the time. Rotz was the regular rider of both Gallant Bloom and Ta Wee, fellow Hall of Fame members, and he was the leading rider in New York in both 1961 and 1962. He won two Triple Crown races, the 1962 Preakness aboard Greek Money and the 1970 Belmont Stakes on High Echelon.

Rotz was known in racing circles as “Gentleman John,” and in a release, the Hall of Fame said that he was “polite, articulate, [and] dependable rather than flashy.”

“His opinion was valued by trainers both before and after a race,” the Hall of Fame noted. “Rotz had a gentle touch with temperamental horses and was known for his success with fillies.”

Born in a small town in Illinois, Rotz did jobs on the backside of Fairmount Park in East St. Louis after graduating from high school in 1952. One year later, he took out his rider’s license and began dominating the Midwest fair circuit. He moved his tack to New York in the early 1960s and instantly established himself as a top-class rider.

Following his riding career, Rotz served as The Jockey Club steward in New York. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.