John L. Rotz

News of another death of a race track personality has once again been delivered. In February my friend, the human FourstarDave passed away; Harvey Pack just last week, and now John L. Rotz, a Hall-of-Fame jockey on the NYRA circuit who rode some top horses and who I remember betting on, and was often frustrated with. You're always frustrated with a jockey when they don't win for you.

Rotz was a NYRA steward for a time after retiring from riding. Our friend and mentor Les knew Rotz, and would tell us Johnny lived on Queens Boulevard with "some Chinese woman." To us, who were younger than Les, and Rotz, this sounded erotic and exotic, and although we never met him, he envied him, being young males who probably thought about relationships every 14 seconds.

Les of course was "Mr. Pace," our handicapping mentor who will forever be enshrined in my personal hall-of-fame for, in 1971, picking Pass Catcher to beat Cannanero II in the Belmont Stakes, having handicapped him with his number system that was heavily reliant on weight being carried.

I have mimicked Les's system with my own 11 point analysis which is heavily reliant on current form. Weight is hardly the handicapping factor it was in horse racing. Les's "numbers" were good, but swung to false outliers when a hurdles horse, usually running with 152 pounds over the jumps, was now in a turf race, maybe for the trainer Sid Watters, and running at 118 pounds.

Les would claim that Rotz communicated with him with some sort of signal during the post parade when the horse he was on was live in the race, or was a dud. In particular, I remember Les telling us that "Johnny doesn't think much of Deceit," a filly going for the Filly Triple Crown in the then mile and a half Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont. I forget who won, but Deceit was up the track I believe.

Supposedly, Les would tell us Johnny had a bad back, and really doesn't try too hard unless the purse was significant. For us, this would be the late '60s, early '70s. I started going to the track in 1968, so I don't remember the famous ride in the 1962 Preakness when Rotz rode Greek money to a nose victory as Manny Ycaza was trying to put him over the rail on Ridan coming down the stretch. Greek Money prevailed, and Ycaza was eventually suspended for rough riding, something Ycaza engaged in frequently, often getting suspended.

In fact, to say Ycaza was an aggressive rider, is to not say enough. He once got Dr. Fager DQ'd from the Jersey Derby at Garden State in 1967 at 30¢ to the dollar for crowding the field at the clubhouse turn, stupidly, since it was a four horse field.  Fager was placed fourth, therefore out of the money. Can imagine being a bridge jumper and Manny Ycaza cost you show money? It's a wonder a sniper's shot didn't get him. Ycaza always thought no one was looking.

I've kept most of my track programs, and can find Rotz listed as late as 1971. Win or lose, There isn't a time at the racetrack that I don't remember fondly.

You can't say that about many things.

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