Balgobin looks to emerge in depleted Hastings jockey colony

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – With three of the top four riders at Hastings last year not returning, a lot of trainers were concerned about the quality of the local jockey colony this year.

Last year’s leading rider, Enrique Gonzalez, decided to stay in Mexico. Scott Williams, third in the standings, went back to Northlands Park, where he earned a Sovereign Award as the leading apprentice in Canada in 2012. Antonio Reyes, fourth, also stayed in Mexico, but according to his agent, Wayne Snow, he will make it back to Hastings at the end of May. Aaron Gryder also is not returning full time.

Keishan Balgobin is hoping to fill some of the void. He got off to a good start at the meet Sunday, winning a race aboard Dorreen’s Delight, and his other three mounts finished third. He also gave Grade 3 winner Senor Rojo a nice ride in the $50,000 George Royal. Nobody was going to beat Title Contender, but Senor Rojo finished full of run to get up for third.

“I was happy with his ride,” trainer Dave Forster said. “I’ll certainly give him some more mounts. He’s also a really nice kid.”

Balgobin, 24, began riding in his native Trinidad at Santa Rosa Park when he was 17. He learned to ride at a jockey school there.

“You have to go to the school before you can ride there,” Balgobin said. “The Jockey Club runs it, and they are very thorough.”

He got involved in horse racing through his father, who is a groom. His older brother, Nickolas, also was a jockey but had to give it up because he got too heavy.

“I followed my brother,” Keishan Balgobin said. “He’s a good rider, and I am trying to convince him to come here. He’s trying to get down to riding weight, and hopefully he’ll come if he can lose some weight.”

Balgobin was the champion apprentice in Trinidad in 2008. He came to Canada in 2012 and had a successful meet at Marquis Downs, winning 22 races from 122 mounts.

“A friend of mine recommended coming to Canada to further my career,” Balgobin said. “I had a good experience riding at Marquis Downs, but I wanted to give Vancouver a try.”

He arrived at Hastings late last year and was pretty much unknown. With one of the deepest jockey colonies seen in Vancouver in years, it wasn’t easy to get live mounts. He ended up winning 11 races from 133 mounts.

He arrived before the meet started this year and should have plenty of live mounts. He takes his riding commitments very seriously.

“I study the Racing Form a lot,” Balgobin said. “I’ll think about the horses I’m riding all day so I know where I should try and put them in a race.”

Balgobin also said one of his strengths was his powerful upper body. He certainly used it in his win aboard Dorreen’s Delight.

“He impressed me last fall when I was watching him ride,” said the horse’s trainer, Harold Barroby. “He really wants to ride here, and it shows. He learned how important it is to save ground on this track, and he gives a horse a good chance every time he rides them. I think he’ll do well here.”

◗ Last Sunday saw one of the biggest opening-day crowds in years, and the mutuel handle reflected it. The total of $679,783 was up 38 percent from last year.