Fair Grounds: Rise Up gives Melancon a big horse this spring

For 16 seasons jockey Gerard Melancon was a Fair Grounds regular, winning races at a steady clip. But in 2007 Melancon moved his tack to Delta Downs in Vinton, La., for the winter. The money at Delta had gotten just about as good as at Fair Grounds, and Melancon every season ranks among the leading riders. Unlike when he rode in New Orleans, Melancon can make it home to the town of Scott in less than an hour after his work is done.

“I got a 10-acre farm, six broodmares,” he said. “I’m content. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

What Melancon, 46, gave up making his move was a chance to get on higher-class horses he might have found at Fair Grounds. But he has one Saturday: Melancon rides Rise Up in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star. Horse and jockey already have developed a rich rapport. They won the $200,000 Jean Lafitte on Oct. 26 at Delta and romped a month later in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, Melancon’s second Jackpot win.

Trainer Tom Amoss uses Melancon on most of the horses he starts at Delta, and he has stuck with Melancon for the Risen Star.

“You always hope you get to ride them back, but you never know,” Melancon said.

Melancon has bounced back from a nasty-looking spill Dec. 19, when he went down and was struck by a trailing horse that tore off his riding boot. Melancon escaped with a dislocated shoulder, a black eye, and a concussion.

“It’s the first time I was ever knocked out,” Melancon said. “I woke up in the ambulance. They put my shoulder back in the socket and I started therapy two days later.”

Melancon was back in action at Delta by mid-January. Saturday, he is back on the big stage.