Longtime Jockey E.J. Perrodin Retires
Longtime Fair Grounds jockey and Louisiana native Elvis Joseph “E.J.” Perrodin, also known to friends and fans as Tee-Joe, announced his retirement from the saddle earlier this week.
Perrodin, 55, rode six winners on a single program at Fair Grounds on Nov. 18, 1979, and won 3,083 races during his career. He was listed to ride Michael Collins’ The Reverend James for his brother-in-law trainer Pat Mouton in Friday’s third race but took off that mount when announcing his retirement.
JOCKEY JIMMY GEORGE’S FAMILY CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF 5-WIN DAY
On Feb. 4, 1942, Fair Grounds-based jockey Jimmy George rode five winners on a single program at the New Orleans oval, and on Feb. 4, 2012, 22 members of his family and friends returned to Fair Grounds from their home in Cincinnati, Ohio, to celebrate his athletic achievement 70 years after it happened.
Although the jockey retired from the saddle in 1949 and died a number of years ago, his sons John and Tim, as well as his 78-year-old brother Ed, headed the large family group that flew down to New Orleans to commemorate the banner day.
“Dad never wanted my brother or me to grow up on the racetrack so he kept us away from it as kids,” said John George. “He wanted us to go to college and find something else to do with our lives, but we both love going to the races here and back home at River Downs, Churchill and Keeneland. In fact, when I was a kid, I used to help Gaston Galjour install TVs around the plant at Keeneland.”
Galjour, of Galjour Electronics and a member of Fair Grounds’ Press Box Hall of Fame from his years of service at Fair Grounds, also was responsible for the television systems at River Downs and Keeneland.
After retiring from the saddle, Jimmy George owned and operated a tavern in Cincinnati, and a large photograph of him holding up the numbers to commemorate the five wins was placed prominently behind the bar so that patrons would know of his former career.
“But Dad had no idea that 70 years later we’d still be celebrating his achievement,” his son said. “Now, we’re all looking forward to coming back to Fair Grounds again for the 75th anniversary.”