Deceased Hall of Fame jockeys Walter Blum, John Rotz, and Bobby Ussery will be honored at the 10th Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Jan. 11 at Gulfstream Park. Tickets can be purchased at http://pdjf.org/purchase-tickets/

“Gentleman John” Rotz, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983, died at 86 in 2021, at his Warrensburg, Ill., farm. He rode such stars as Carry Back, Ta Wee, Dr. Fager, and In Reality.

Though he won the 1970 Belmont Stakes on longshot High Echelon, his best-known victory came in the 1962 Preakness. His mount, Greek Money, defeated Ridan, ridden by Manny Ycaza, by a nose after Ycaza leaned into Rotz on his inside and placed an elbow in front of Rotz. Oddly, Ycaza claimed foul. Greek Money was not disqualified and instead stewards suspended Ycaza 10 racing days.

Walter Blum was one of a kind in many ways. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., as the son of a newspaper deliverer, he was inducted into the International Jewish Hall of Fame and the next year into racing’s Hall of Fame as the only Jewish jockey. He won the 1964 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award and became president of the Jockeys Guild until he retired from riding in 1974.

A steward at two tracks, he moved to Florida in 1978 and became the state steward at Gulfstream Park, serving until he retired in 2004.

Blum won 4,382 races and is best known for Belmont Park‘s 1964 Woodford Stakes, where his mount, Gun Bow, defeated five-time Horse of the Year Kelso. He also won the 1971 Belmont Stakes with 34-1 longshot Pass Catcher, denying Canonero a Triple Crown sweep. 

Blum was one of three Hall of Fame jockeys, along with Pat Day and Ramon Dominguez, who attended the first Jockeys and Jeans event at Tampa Bay Downs in 2014.

Robert “Bobby” Ussery was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980. He died at 88 on Nov. 16, 2023, at his home in Hollywood, Fla., and his ashes were spread in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle this year. Though he won the 1960 Preakness Stakes aboard Bally Ache and the 1967 Kentucky Derby aboard Proud Clarion, he is best known for two reasons. His “Ussery’s Alley” at Aqueduct Racetrack became his trademark. He guided horses to the track’s outside coming off the stretch turn, then rode down the track’s tilting crown toward the rail to propel him to the lead.

Ussery, who attended six Jockeys and Jeans events, also won the 1968 Kentucky Derby aboard Dancer’s Image. But the horse was disqualified and placed last after phenylbutazone (Bute) was found in his post-race urine sample.

The Jockeys and Jeans event will include videos of the three riders and a commemorative plaque presented to special people in their lives.

“Each year well over a dozen Hall of Fame jockeys travel across the country without payment to attend our events, and this time at least 17 will attend,” said Jockeys and Jeans president Eddie Donnally.

For more information, contact Donnally at http://edjockeysandjeans.com> or 818-653-3711.