Desormeaux wins with two of his three Sunday mounts

In his first mounts in Kentucky since September 2021, Kent Desormeaux rode three horses on New Year’s Day at Turfway Park. All three were for trainer Wesley Ward. Desormeaux won two maiden special weight events and finished second in the Holiday Cheer aboard Outadore after a troubled start.

Desormeaux has battled substance-abuse issues throughout his career. He has won three editions of the Kentucky Derby and three Eclipse Awards, and is a member of the Racing Hall of Fame.

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In the past two years, his career has been interrupted by personal and legal issues. He was involved in an altercation at an RV park at Del Mar in August 2020 in which he was accused of using racial slurs and behaving aggressively, and he was arrested in January 2022 in his home state of Louisiana on charges of domestic abuse and battery.

Following a stay in rehab, Desormeaux returned to riding last November at Del Mar, his first mounts since January 2022. Including his two wins at Turfway on Sunday, he has won four races since his return.

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