Cowboy Jones Becomes Oldest Jockey to Win at Ellis Park

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When Jarrett won the first race at Ellis Park today, Robert A. "Cowboy" Jones became the oldest jockey to ever win a race at the Western Kentucky track.

The 61-year-old rider may also be the oldest active jockey currently in North America, though that is a hard thing to immediately verify.

The oldest jockey to ever win a race in Kentucky was Tommy "Fightin" Guyton, who won a race at Turfway Park at age 68.

Jones broke his leg last year and was unable to ride at the Ellis meet. That didn't stop the track from having a Cowboy Jones bobblehead giveaway. Despite having his leg in a cast, Jones rode down the stretch that day. He began galloping horses again last November.

Jarrett, who was racing for a $4,000 claiming tag, is trained by Larry Jones and owned by Jones and his wife, Cindy. He won the race today by 10 1/2 lengths.

Cowboy Jones is an Ellis Park legend. He was the track's leading rider in 1963, 1969, and 1972.

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