Jockey Clinton Potts
Born: 08/27/71 Resides: Sierra Madre, California Family: Emalee, daughter; Ethan, son
Potts, who came in from Southern, California, is riding at Oaklawn for the first time. "Several outfits I have connections with, were coming here. Very likely, after Oaklawn, I will return to California," he said.
Potts is a native of Farmers Branch, Texas. He began his riding career near home.
"Farmers Branch is northwest of Dallas between Grapevine and Garland,” he noted. “I was 15 when I started going to ranch at Midlothian, which is west of Dallas, near Weatherford. There was a training track at the ranch. I started getting on horses there and learned to ride. Until then, I hadn't thought much about becoming a jockey," Potts said.
Potts started out as a quarter horse rider, but in 1990 turned to thoroughbreds, winning his first pari-mutuel race at Blue Ribbon Downs.
He won the Penn National riding crown in 2000.
“My biggest win to date has been the Grade I Princess Rooney Stakes,” he said. “That was on River’s Prayer. I won five stakes on him. Another quality horse I rode was Black Seventeen, on who I won the Carry Back Stakes. Docent was another nice horse I rode,’ he said.