Jockey Joe Johnson
Born: 06/29/67, Owensboro, Kentucky Resides: Louisville, Kentucky Family: Carla, wife; Hailey Renea, daughter; Coby, son
In the low key jargon of the backstretch, Joe “hit the ground running” on opening weekend of Oaklawn’s 2008 meeting. He won with four of his 12 mounts that first four days, including Spotsgone in the $42,500 feature on Sunday.
Fans recall that he rode High Heels to victory in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes during last year’s Oaklawn Racing Festival of the South.
The consummate professional, it seems Johnson turns in one excellent riding job after another.
He is recalled as the regular jockey of Judge T C, a Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage trainee, who earned approximately $825,000 while winning such stakes as Oaklawn's Rebel and Crabapple.
“He is the favorite of all my horses over the years,” noted Johnson.
In 2001 Johnson rode the Pete Vestal-trained Crafty Shaw to victory in the $100,000 Rebel Stakes.The jockey happily recalls 1991 when he rode 94 winners and his mounts ridden earned more than $1.9 million. “I won 12 stakes that year," he remembers.
Johnson scored his maiden victory at Churchill Downs in June of 1989 and has been riding at Oaklawn each spring since those apprentice days.
“I come to Oaklawn and then ride in Kentucky," said Johnson. "I want to stay close to my family. We have a home in Louisville. Both our children are in school there and my wife works for UPS."
Racing fans are quick to note that Joe rides a lot of horses for Hartlage. In an era in which stables change jockeys on the slightest whim, Joe has found security with Hartlage.“We are still together, but I have been riding for other stables too. Gary no longer carries the large number of horses he once did,” said Johnson.
Hartlage has long been an Oaklawn regular."When I came on the race track, it was as hot walker for Red Dog. I progressed to groom, then exercise boy and finally to stable jockey." Johnson reflected.
Johnson remembers winning the 1997 Fifth Season Breeders’ Cup aboard Krigeorij's Gold the last day of the Spa meet, enabling Hartlage to tie Kenny Smith for top trainer at 26 wins apiece in the final standings.