Jockey Desormeaux eyes return to racing at upcoming Del Mar meet

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has not ridden since January, said Sunday that he is planning a comeback at the Del Mar autumn meeting that begins on Nov. 11.

Desormeaux paid a visit to Santa Anita on Sunday morning, and said he is eager to resume a career disrupted by personal and legal issues this year.

Desormeaux recently completed a 60-day suspension issued by Del Mar stewards in August related to an altercation at an RV Park at Del Mar last fall. He is currently serving an eight-day suspension after losing appeals of two penalties for causing interference in races at Del Mar in the summer of 2021.

Those suspension days run through Saturday.

Desormeaux is currently ineligible to ride at Santa Anita, or other tracks owned by 1/ST Racing, after the company banned him following his arrest in his home state of Louisiana in January on charges of domestic abuse and battery.

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Desormeaux said on Sunday that he is hoping to meet with track officials to regain riding privileges. The current Santa Anita meeting ends on Sunday. The track opens its winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26.

“I’m not cleared at Santa Anita,” he said. “I’m clear with the” California Horse Racing Board.

Earlier this year, the racing board issued a complaint against Desormeaux related to the incident at the RV Park. According to the complaint, Desormeaux admitted to consuming alcohol “throughout the year,” a violation of an agreement he signed in December 2020 with the Winner’s Foundation stating that he would refrain from “using any mind-altering and mood-changing substances” from Dec. 14, 2020 through Dec. 26, 2021.

The Winner’s Foundation aids people in California racing with substance-abuse issues.

Desormeaux said he recently ended a stay in rehab and described it as “my best experience in rehab.” He said the rehab was structured with a more personal therapy than larger group sessions.

Desormeaux, who has won three Kentucky Derbys and three Eclipse Awards, has had numerous disruptions to his career related to substance-abuse issues.

Desormeaux has won 6,116 races in North America and more than 100 races overseas, primarily in Japan.

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