Photo Credit NYRA
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – After wintering at Aqueduct the past several years, jockey Rajiv Maragh made a triumphant Championship Meet return Friday at Gulfstream Park.
The 34-year-old Jamaica native, who rode his first race at Calder Race Course in 2003, guided Uncle Gregory ($11.60) to victory in Race 2 on Opening Day of the 2019-2020 Championship Meet.
“It’s really awesome to come back home. This is where my riding originated here in Florida. I grew up here after I left Jamaica,” Maragh said following his career victory No. 1,890 victory. “All my family is here. It’s really nice to be back, and it’s really nice to win a race on the first day of the meet.”
Maragh rode his first of 53 graded-stakes winners at Gulfstream Park, scoring with Lilah in the 2005 Hurricane Bertie (G3). He has recorded four Breeders’ Cup victories among his several Grade 1 successes, riding Groupie Doll for back-to-back wins in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in 2012 and 2013, as well as notching wins in the 2012 Juvenile Sprint with Hightail and 2011 Dirt Mile (G1) with Caleb’s Posse.
“I’m working hard, hoping to get off to a good start. I was provided with a lot of opportunities today, so I hope to capitalize on it,”
