Jockey Johnny Cox is one of the most important riders of his generation. He won 27 futurities and 34 derbies during 23 years of race riding. A top rider on the Texas circuit, he won the most important stakes races at Ruidoso Downs including the 1965 Rainbow Futurity with Talent Bar and then in 1971 rode the tempestuous Mr Kid Charge to victories in the Rainbow Futurity and All American Futurity, where they set a track record that held for 11 years. He also found success riding Thoroughbreds with a win in the Ruidoso Thoroughbred Futurity aboard Bally Bird.  He was recently inducted into the Ruidoso Downs 2019 Racehorse Hall of Fame.  Cox also won the West Texas Futurity with Sagey’s Folly in 1964 and took the futurity the following year with Top Division.   He started his career as a jockey at a young age when a neighbor let him ride his Shetland pony when he was 14 at a track next to his house in Spicewood, Texas.  Cox, who now lives in Alto, N.M., competed in rodeo during high school, but found he could make more money and have more of a career in racing. But maintaining a career as a jockey is very demanding, so he retired after 23 years.   Cox then raised registered Red Brangus cattle, and at one point was managing 29 ranches scattered throughout Central Texas. His love for team roping resurfaced in 1997 and he found more time for it as his ranching commitments tapered off.  By 2011, he placed fifth in the #10 Finale with partner Westi Hicks, Deming, N.M.