'Cowboy' legend secured after riding latest Ellis winner; Stateside.

Byline: Dan Farley

A JOCKEY who has been a permanent fixture at Ellis Park since the 1950s recently recorded a highly notable victory at the little track in western Kentucky.

RA 'Cowboy' Jones, 61, won his first race of the meeting on July 21. The victory, aboard Jarrett, was also his first win anywhere this century.

Nicknamed 'Cowboy' by the late racecaller Chick Anderson in 1962, Jones has now won a race at Ellis Park in each of the last six decades. 'What a relief,' says Jones, the leading rider at Ellis in 1963, 1966 and 1973. 'Man, I'm glad to get the monkey off my back. There's always pressure to win a race; now I can start looking for number two.'

Jones has been referred to as a legend at Ellis, to which he says: 'The best part about that legend thing is when they put the 'living' part in front of it. As good as I feel, I think I can go eight decades. I'm healthy.

'The only thing that's ever backed me up is that I break bones. But this morning I galloped 12 horses. When I got done, I went home and cleaned tomatoes and juiced a dozen quarts. And tonight I'll go dancing.

'Two of the three things I really enjoy, I get paid for. The only thing I don't get paid for is dancing.'

Another jockey recording a big win was Billy Patin, who recently returned from a five-year ban after being caught with an electrical device while riding Valhol in the 1999 Arkansas Derby. Valhol won the race, and Patin claimed he never used the battery.

The win was taken away from Valhol, and Patin began his extended vacation on July 1, 1999.

Patin guided Herecomes Unc to the winner's circle at Ellis on July 28. 'I couldn't have been happier if I'd won five races,' says Patin, 41.

'I knew I'd win again. I have to show people I can do the job so they'll have confidence in me.'