John Rockey Sr., Palmdale, Calif., who showed his gelding Let Georgie Do It to the title of 2016 NCHA Amateur Horse of the Year, passed away on Thursday, June 6. An NCHA member since 1978, Rockey will be honored with a tribute on June 12, at the PCCHA Derby at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, where he had been entered to ride.
Last year, Rockey won both the PCCHA Futurity Classic Amateur Unlimited and the Non-Pro Limited titles riding Dureyngo Kid, who he also showed as reserve champion of the 2018 NCHA Super Stakes Amateur and the 2018 NCHA Derby Amateur Unlimited.
Last month, Rockey showed his 4-year-old gelding Sweet Toothe to win the Breeders Invitational Amateur championship, and collected money in seven other divisions of the event on Sweet Toothe and Dureyngo Kid.