Geroux taking a few days off following father's death

Jockey Florent Geroux will be off his mounts at Fair Grounds through at least Monday following the death of his father, Dominique Geroux. The elder Geroux died Friday morning in France, according to Doug Bredar, agent for Florent Geroux.

Florent Geroux last rode Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds, leaving for France after the first few races to tend to his father, who he learned fell on Christmas Day. Dominique Geroux was 67 and a former jockey and trainer, Bredar said. He died in his hometown of Amiens, about 75 miles north of Paris.

“Florent and his wife are planning the services as we speak,” Bredar said Friday. “They will be sometime next week.”

Geroux is closing out one of the best years of his career, with 177 wins from 998 mounts through Thursday, chief among his victories the Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Gun Runner. His mounts earned more than $14 million in 2017, ranking seventh among all riders in North America.