Jockey Gerard Melancon will close out a 40-year riding career during which he won more than 5,000 races on Sunday’s closing-day card at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Melancon, 56, said his final mount will come in 13th race, when he rides Good N Sassy. She will cap a journey that began Feb. 1, 1984, the date of his first mount. It was at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. “My first win came Feb. 9,” Melancon said of the milestone victory at Delta. Along the way, Melancon has won 5,103 races from 32,813 starts through Tuesday. His mounts have earned more than $91 million. At the top of the list is Bonapaw, with whom Melancon won the Grade 1 Vosburgh in 2002 at Belmont Park. “He was definitely the best horse I’ve ridden,” Melancon said. “He was special to me. I believe I won 11 stakes on him, and he took me to Dubai – and all over the country winning stakes.” Melancon’s other graded wins with Bonapaw were the Grade 3 Hanshin at Arlington Park and the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn. Other graded winners for the rider included the Grade 2 Super Derby in 2004 with Fantasticat, the Grade 3 Lukas Classic in 2019 with Mocito Rojo, the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap in 2011 with Expansion, and a pair of runnings of the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. Melancon, who was born in Rayne, La., said his career exceeded his expectations. It was not expected he would become a jockey. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  “I was a city boy,” Melancon said. “I was real spoiled. I had every motorcycle, mini bike, or go-kart you wanted, but I rode my Shetland more than anything. I rode my horse since I was like eight.” Melancon made his way to Manuel Robin’s farm to start getting on horses bound for the racetrack and soon met his wife, Annette, who is the daughter of the late trainer Anatole Bourque. Gerard Melancon said after he began race riding, he found out two of his mother’s brothers, David and John Richard, were jockeys. Melancon won 10 riding titles during his career, at such tracks as Louisiana Downs and Delta. He won five at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., and that is where he will start the next chapter of his racing career. Melancon will work the upcoming meet as a jockey agent, representing Joe Stokes and apprentice Marlon Del-Cid. “Joe is getting close to 2,000 wins, and Marlon is a first cousin to Vicente Del-Cid,” said Melancon, referring to the multiple title winner in Louisiana. Melancon said he spent a few months as an agent several years ago, when he was sidelined with a broken arm. For the bulk of his career, Melancon was represented by one of the region’s foremost agents, Louis Coco. Melancon said he retires healthy and looks forward to spending more time with his wife and sons Jansen, who is a jockey, and Jonas. The Melancons have four grandchildren, Emmitt, Isley, Brecker, and Rye – plus five Shetlands. It’s enough going on for the jockey to firmly wrap up his riding career Sunday. “I’m not going to do the Tom Brady move,” quipped Melancon. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.