Theriot will ride in Mauritius

Veteran jockey Jamie Theriot will move his tack to the island nation of Mauritius following the completion of the Fair Grounds meeting, Theriot recently told Fair Grounds publicity staff.

Theriot has a contract to ride in Mauritius, which sits about 1,200 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, for an established trainer named Ramapatee Gujadhur. Theriot, 39, said he plans to ride the entire Mauritius racing season and return to the United States next fall.

Theriot, a Louisiana native whose career began in 1995, has ridden 2,498 sanctioned winners through Feb. 6. Theriot had been based in Southern California for a couple years before returning to Fair Grounds for the ongoing meet. He has struggled to attract regular business and so far in 2018 has ridden only two winners.