Jockey Florent Geroux is shifting his base from Fair Grounds in New Orleans to Santa Anita in California, arriving on Thursday and starting rides the next day. The move comes amid slow business at his current track and the injury absence of fellow rider Umberto Rispoli. Agent Matt Nakatani will handle Geroux's bookings in the region.
Florent Geroux announced on Sunday to the Daily Racing Form his decision to relocate his tack from Fair Grounds to Santa Anita. He plans to arrive Thursday and begin riding Friday, marking his first primary base in Southern California. Geroux cited limited opportunities at Fair Grounds as a key factor. "Business has been a bit slow at the Fair Grounds. I’m winning, but I’m not riding a lot," he explained.
The decision gained momentum during a hospital visit to Umberto Rispoli, who was unseated in a fall at Gulfstream Park on January 24. Reports on Rispoli's injuries differ: some mention leg and ankle trauma, while others detail fractures to the ankle, tibia, and fibula, followed by surgeries that will sideline him for months. As Nakatani also represents Rispoli, Geroux's addition fills a gap in high-profile mounts during Santa Anita's competitive meet, which features Grade 1 races and substantial purses.
Geroux brings a strong record to the track. This year, he has secured seven wins from 33 mounts, all at Fair Grounds. His career includes 2,319 North American victories since 2007, starting professionally in France in 2004. Highlights encompass a personal-best 217 wins in 2016 and mounts earning $21.4 million in 2018, with total purse earnings exceeding $189 million. He recently rode in Japan in December.
Santa Anita holds familiarity for Geroux, with five wins there since 2014, four at Grade 1 level: the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Work All Week, the 2019 Shoemaker Mile on Bolo, the 2021 Frank Kilroe Mile on Hit the Road, and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Idiomatic. This relocation highlights how injuries and seasonal demands influence jockey movements in North American racing, benefiting Santa Anita while impacting Fair Grounds' winter schedule.
