Jockey Perry Compton

Born: 06/08/1952, Redfield South Dakota

Resides: Columbus, Nebraska

Family: Dixie, wife; Jayed, daughter; Trysten, son 

“I’d love to have a year in 2009 that I had in 2008,” remembered Perry Compton, who at 5’8”, is particularly tall for a jockey.  

He started out last year at Oaklawn where he rode 119 horses, from which 13 won. His mounts earned $238,910. 

“I went on to Prairie Meadows where I had a good first meeting,” he said. 

Among his stakes victories was the Prairie Meadows Freshman Stakes on Jumpifydare for Kelly Von Hemel. 

“I didn’t care to ride the mixed meeting, so planned to go to Remington.Before leaving, I picked up a mount in a stakes and won. I won a stakes for Christine Janks,” he said  

The next thing I know the Remington meet was a month old and I’m on a roll. Mrs. Janks called and asked if I wanted to come to Chicago and ride for her.She had 40 head of horses, so I went there and forgot about Remington,” Perry recalled. 

By time 2008 ended, Compton’s wins included two in $100,000 races. 

On a recent morning, Perry sat in Oaklawn’s track kitchen and talked about his long riding career. 

“I grew up about a block from the little track at Fort Pierre, South Dakota. There were several of us buddies that ran around together and attended the races there. I rode a little while then left the saddle to complete my education. I weighed 102 pounds. After finishing school, I resumed riding, but then weighed 112,” remembered Compton. 

A brother, Jim, rode and is now training horses.  A third brother, Bobby, was killed in a starting gate accident at Canterbury Downs, several years ago. 

“Back when my jockey days started, I had no idea of riding as long as I have,” Perry remarked.  “Can it have been 38 years?”   On two occasions, Compton has ridden in the Breeders’ Cup, once on Cadillac Women and once on Evansville Slew. In 1991, I finished third on Cadillac Women in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. I had won the Palatine Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Arlington on her. I won the 1994 Arlington-Washington Futurity on Evansville Slew,” he remembered. 

Perry often rode Delta Wolf. 

“I won several stakes on him. He remains a personal favorite,” Compton said. 

Twice Perry won the Ak-Sar-Ben Board of Governors’ Handicap, winning with Swingin Sway in 1989 and Lance in 1991. Twice he won the Ak-Sar-Ben Laddie;in 1988 with Justa Pro and in1990 with Magnum G.I. 

The racing records show that Compton rode his first winner, August 2, 1969, this coming at Park Jefferson, South Dakota. 

He rode at Oaklawn early in the 2006 meeting, and then went on to Hawthorne.He rode at the Spa in 2007 and did so well, he decided it make Hot Springs a regular stop of his itinerary. 

“I have concentrated my riding mostly in the Midwest. I have ridden, but not a lot, on the east and west coasts,” he declared.