Aaron Tod Gryder (born June 5, 1970, in West Covina, California) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Growing up fifteen minutes away from the Santa Anita racetrack, as a boy Gryder had no contact with horses other than his grandparents' interest in attending the nearby races. But from as early as he could recall he wanted to be a professional jockey. At the age of 13, he left home to learn to ride at the invitation of widely respected jockey, Rudy Campas, who retired from racing after a 26-year career.