Carmouche hopes to be race-riding again by March 1

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, sidelined since September after breaking his leg in a spill at Kentucky Downs, has been getting on horses in the morning for two weeks and is targeting March 1 as his return to race-riding.

“Can’t wait to get back to that winner’s circle, man,” Carmouche said Sunday morning at Belmont Park, where he worked horses for trainers Danny Gargan and Chad Brown. “I think a lot of fans and a lot family members want to see it, too.”

Carmouche, who lives in Delaware, started getting on horses in early February at Parx Racing. He came to Belmont on Friday and Sunday to work horses.

“I’m pretty fit, I just want to get riding-fit; it’s a different kind of fit than going to therapy every day,” Carmouche said. “I just want to give myself enough time so whenever March 1st comes around I’ll be ready to rock and roll.”

Carmouche broke his right leg when his mount, Chattel, clipped heels with another horse during the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint on Sept. 7.

Carmouche, 35, said he took advantage of his six-month absence from riding to spend time with his wife and two children.

“That was the best thing that happened, but going forward I’m ready; I’m tired of being on the sidelines handing out water,” Carmouche said. “I want to make the plays. I want to run through the end zone.”

In March, Aqueduct races only three days a week, so Carmouche said he plans to ride twice a week at Parx as well.

“It’s good to be back on a horse,” Carmouche said. “Each one I get on I just smile; there’s a difference between all of them and it just makes me feel good.”

In 2018, Carmouche was the 10th-leading rider on the New York Racing Association circuit in wins (84) and purse-money won ($5,265,031).