Hong Kong jockey Rispoli to ride at Santa Anita

Umberto Rispoli, a former champion jockey in Italy who has ridden in Hong Kong in recent years, is relocating to Southern California.

Rispoli is scheduled to begin riding at Santa Anita on the opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26.

His arrival comes at a time when three prominent riders are leaving the circuit or are making plans to do so. Martin Garcia relocated to Kentucky last month. Joe Talamo and Tyler Baze are scheduled to ride at Santa Anita through Jan. 5 before moving to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for that track’s winter-spring meeting, which begins on Jan. 24.

Baze rode in the Midwest for much of 2019 before returning to California in early October. He will be represented at Oaklawn Park by agent Brandon O’Bryan, according to Craig O’Bryan, Baze’s current agent and Brandon’s father.

Rispoli is scheduled to ride in Hong Kong on Sunday and fly to California on Monday. He will begin exercising horses on Tuesday, according to his new agent, Ron Anderson.

Anderson will also represent Joel Rosario, who is scheduled to resume riding at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Rosario rode at Santa Anita in the first three months of 2019 and was the leading rider when he departed for Keeneland in early April.

Rispoli was winless with three mounts at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with two second-place finishes. Since the start of the Hong Kong season in September, Rispoli has won five races from 100 mounts. At the 2018-19 Hong Kong season, which ended in July, Rispoli was tied for 11th in the standings with 25 wins.

Rispoli, 31, began riding in 2005 and was the champion jockey in Italy in 2009-10. He has won Group 1 races in France, Hong Kong, Italy, and Japan.