Geroux prepares for busy weekend, 'but this is what I love'
Jockey Florent Geroux has enjoyed considerable success at Sam Houston Race Park over the last three years with several key stakes wins, including his victory aboard Tiger Moth in the 2018 Houston Ladies Classic.
The French rider took a few minutes to talk about his extraordinary weekend one year ago when he won the 2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational with Gun Runner the day before jetting to Houston. The Grade 1 stakes, richest in North America, lures the premier national and international horses to Gulfstream Park.
“It was a great memory,” said Geroux. “There was no pressure riding such an amazing horse. We knew it would be his last race and wanted him to go out on top. Of course, that huge purse made it even sweeter."
Geroux, Jose Ortiz and several other riders flew to Houston that Sunday morning and were extremely accommodating in signing autographs for fans prior to the beginning of the Houston Racing Festival card.
This year, Geroux will ride in four stakes on Sunday, including the 2019 Houston Ladies Classic aboard Prado’s Sweet Ride for trainer Gary Scherer.
“After her win in the Falls City Handicap (on November 22 at Churchill Downs), I committed to ride her,” Geroux said. “She is an experienced mare, and I am looking forward to riding her. But, we are in tough against Midnight Bisou. I saw her train at Fair Grounds and she is a very nice filly.”
It will mark another whirlwind weekend for Geroux, who rides Thursday at Fair Grounds; opening day Friday at Oaklawn Park and Saturday at Gulfstream Park before returning to Sam Houston Race Park for the Houston Racing Festival.
“It will be a busy week, but this is what we love,” he said.
Speaking of Tiger Moth, last year’s Houston Ladies Classic winner, has been retired and will be bred to Triple Crown champion and 2018 Horse of the Year, Justify. The news was announced on Thursday by John and Tanya Gunther, breeders of both Tiger Moth and Justify.
John Gunther was honored Thursday night as the 2018 Eclipse Award Champion Breeder. at the 48th annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
The father-daughter team own and operate Glennwood Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.