Hall of Fame Jockey Rotz Dies at 86
By BloodHorse Staff, July 13, 2021

Hall of Fame jockey John Rotz died peacefully July 12 at
age 86 at his farm in Warrensburg, Ill., according to the
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Rotz, who won
2,907 races and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983,
was North America's leading stakes-winning rider in 1969
and 1970 when he rode Hall of Famers Gallant Bloom and
Ta Wee, as well as champion Silent Screen.

Born Dec. 16, 1934, in Niantic, Ill., Rotz went to work at
Fairmount Park following his graduation from high school
in 1952. He started out as a groom, hot walker, and exercise
rider before making his debut as a jockey in 1953.

Known as "Gentleman John," Rotz began his career riding in
fairs in the Midwest before becoming the leading rider in
New York in 1961 and 1962. He won the Preakness Stakes by
a nose aboard Greek Money in 1962 and the Belmont Stakes
on High Echelon in 1970.

Polite, articulate, dependable rather than flashy, his
opinion was valued by trainers both before and after a race.
Rotz had a gentle touch with temperamental horses and was
known for his success with fillies. He won the Acorn Stakes
and Mother Goose Stakes on Deceit and won notable races
aboard top fillies such as What a Treat, Rose Bower, Obeah,
Castle Forbes, Indian Maid, Rash Statement, and Chou Croute.

Rotz won the Metropolitan Handicap with both Hall of Famer
Carry Back and In Reality, the Wood Memorial Stakes on
Globemaster and No Robbery, and the Champagne Stakes on
Roman Brother, Silent Screen, and Stop the Music. He also
rode Hall of Famer Dr. Fager, as well as Verbatim, The
Axe II, and Mongo.

Rotz, who was honored with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey
Award in 1973, retired from riding that year at the age of
39. His 2,907 wins ranked 15th at the time. He later served
as The Jockey Club steward in New York and was a steward
at numerous tracks across the country.

While working at Thistledown in Ohio, he met his wife, Mary.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/251504/hall-of-fame-jockey-rotz-dies-at-86