Jockey E.J. Perrodin has hung up his saddle after more than 3,000 wins in more than 35 years of riding, primarily in his home state of Louisiana. The 55-year-old jockey informed Fair Grounds officials on Friday that he was retiring when he declined to accept his only mount of the day, aboard The Reverend James for his brother-in-law, trainer Patrick Mouton. Elvis Joseph Perrodin, known as E.J. to racing fans and as Tee-Joe to fellow horsemen, began his career in 1975. One of the highlights of his career was a six-win day at Fair Grounds on Nov. 18, 1979, while the richest win of his career came aboard 84-1 shot Candid Glen in the $650,000 Explosive Bid Handicap in 2003 at Fair Grounds. He finishes his career with 3,083 wins, having notched his 3,000th victory in December 2008 at Fair Grounds. Perrodin sustained a number of serious injuries during his career, with the last major injury being to his pelvis in November 2007 in a pre-race incident at Fair Grounds. Perrodin’s opportunities had dwindled in recent months. He was 0 for 36 at the Fair Grounds meet and winless in seven mounts this year, and that contributed to his decision to retire, he said. “Things didn’t happen the way I hoped, really, this meet,” he said. Asked how he felt about retiring, Perrodin said: “I have mixed feelings. I’ve got a weird feeling right now.” Perrodin said he was considering becoming a jockey agent this summer at Louisiana Downs. ◗ A pair of allowances anchors a decent nine-race Thursday card. Race 7 pits seven 3-year-olds, including a Bret Calhoun entry, going a mile and 70 yards in trying to make it through their first allowance condition, while Race 8 drew an oversubscribed field of older Louisiana-breds clashing at a mile on the turf. First post Thursday is 12:40 p.m. Central, with the co-features going at 3:43 and 4:15. ◗ Another twilight racing program is on tap at Fair Grounds with a 10-race card starting Friday at 5 p.m. Central. This will be the third of six programs being promoted under the “Starlight Racing” banner, with a “Carnival” theme set for this Friday. Subsequent Starlight dates are Feb. 24, March 16, and March 30. ◗ Fair Grounds will break a recent stakes drought Saturday when it offers the $75,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Joyful Victory and Ravi’s Song are the top names in what is expected to be an outstanding field. The last stakes date was Jan. 21. ◗ Jockey Robby Albarado is scheduled to resume riding Friday after suffering a bruised foot Saturday night in a gate mishap at Delta Downs and taking off all Sunday mounts. Albarado, a seven-time Fair Grounds riding champion, is not named on any mounts Thursday. – additional reporting by Marcus Hersh