Elliot intends to ride Turfway's holiday meet

Jockey Stewart Elliott intends to resume riding at the Turfway Park holiday meet that begins Dec. 4, according to Jose Santos Jr., who will be his agent at the northern Kentucky track.

Elliott, best known for his winning rides on Smarty Jones in the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, rode sparingly at the Keeneland fall meet after returning from a rib injury sustained in mid-August at Del Mar.

Santos said Elliott has been busy getting his family settled in at their new farm in Bowling Green, Ky., a nearly two-hour drive from Louisville, after they recently moved there from New Jersey.

“He’s also been hunting a lot – he really enjoys it,” said Santos.

Elliott, 49, was second in wins at the Keeneland spring meet in April. He has ridden 4,650 winners in a 34-year career.

Johnston agent for two jockeys

Mark Johnston, who won the 1990 Eclipse Award for top apprentice jockey when based in Maryland, has become the agent for apprentice Jack Gilligan and journeyman Dean Sarvis, both headed for Turfway. Johnston rode his last race in 2004 after winning 3,085 races and $56.7 million in mount earnings.

Gilligan, 18, came to the United States from England in late September and hails from a family of horsemen, with both of his parents having accompanied him to Louisville.

◗ Turfway Park in northern Kentucky will race three nights during its four-day race weeks in December, with first post Thursdays through Saturdays set for 6:15 p.m. Eastern. Afternoon racing will be conducted Sundays. Maiden special weight races at Turfway will be worth $24,000, although $13,500 is restricted money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.