DEL MAR, Calif. — He’s considered one of the top jockeys riding in the U.S today and he’s decided to ride fulltime at Del Mar this summer. Florent Geroux has ridden the likes of Horse of the Year Gun Runner, Eclipse Award Distaff champion Monomoy Girl, last year’s G1 Clement Hirsch winner Shedaresthedevil, and Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun.
The 36-year native of France has been riding in the states since 2007. As his career progressed he would pick-up rides with such notable barns as Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox, riding at literally every major track in North America. But he felt now was a good time to give Del Mar a try.
“It was great timing,” Geroux says. “I felt there was a little bit of a void in the jockey colony. Many of the top jockeys have left, especially Flavien (Prat) and I decided to give it a try. (Del Mar) is a very beautiful place. I’m very excited to be near the ocean…it’s the place to be in the summertime.”
Geroux is no stranger to Del Mar. In addition to his victory on Shedaresthedevil in the 2021 Hirsch, he guided Acclimate to a win in the 2019 G2 Del Mar Handicap and rode in both Breeders’ Cups here. In between, he won such prestigious races as the Kentucky Oaks, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and the Louisiana Derby. He says he’s not coming out here to ride for any particular trainer.
“No, we hope to ride for everybody,” Geroux says. “Several trainers have reached out to us and offered us some horses to ride.”
He says he still has some out-of-town commitments he needs to fulfill. He plans to ride Opening Day at Del Mar but that night he’ll be on a plane heading to the Jersey Shore to ride at Monmouth Park. He has the mount on Arkansas Derby winner, Cyberknife in the G1 Haskell Invitational and on Kentucky Ghost in the G1 United Nations.
Otherwise, Del Mar racing fans will have Florent all to themselves this summer at Del Mar.
Del Mar Press Release
Photo: Florent Geroux (Coady Photography)
