Renowned Jamaican-born jockey Rajiv Maragh makes highly anticipated return to race riding
Jamaican-born jockey Rajiv Maragh made a highly anticipated return to race riding on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at Gulfstream Park, ending a two-year break from competition. Maragh, who has several Breeders’ Cup wins to his credit, was down to ride two horses on his return, finishing down the track on Gabagool, trained by his father Colin, while his other mount, Supers Lucky Lady, was declared a late non-starter.
During his time away from the saddle, Maragh worked in the media with NYRA and Fox Sports, covering prestigious events such as the Mouttet Mile last December in his homeland. Just days before his return, Maragh, along with his wife Angelina and son Luka, welcomed the birth of their fourth family member, daughter Lilah.
“The birth of Lilah brings a lot of joy not only for Angie, Luka, and myself but also for our extended families. She is a beautiful girl,” Maragh said. The name Lilah holds special significance for the Maragh family, as it was the name of a filly he won his first Graded Stakes race with back in 2005.
Maragh’s decision to return to race riding was influenced by his family and the desire to settle in Florida. “To be in racing with a young family and traveling became a bit impractical. I’ve been doing a lot of traveling over the last two years. As such, I’ve not been able to be at home for many nights,” Maragh explained.
In preparation for his return, Maragh has been mounting up for the last three to four weeks and has been focusing on getting his weight down to around 121-122 lbs. “Two and a half years of not being on horses, it takes time to get back into the swing. I want to gradually work my way into it so that by November, I am in full swing,” Maragh stated.
With his return to the saddle, Rajiv Maragh looks forward to once again competing at the highest level of horse racing and continuing to build on his successful career in the sport.
