Ouzts loses irons, but finds a way to win

Jockey Perry Ouzts pulled a new trick out of his helmet at River

Downs on Monday. The 55-year-old veteran was astride 6-5 favorite EASTER

ARRIVAL (Brolly) in the 2ND race, and as the starting gate broke open,

so did the buckle that holds his iron attached to the saddle on his

right side.

For about a sixteenth of a mile he rode with one boot dangling and

the other in his right iron.

"It was really awkward, and I was afraid the horse might get out, so

I just took my other boot out of the irons," said Ouzts, who is riding

at River Downs for the 37th season. 

With his legs holding him to the horse, Ouzts moved quickly from

fourth to first around the sloppy far turn. 

"When we straightened out in the lane I told him, 'Don't give up on

me now -- we've come too far this way not to win it now,'" the rider

recalled. "I started diggin' in with my boot heels and he took off!"