Jockey Geroux 'truly home,' passes U.S. citizenship test

Kentucky-based jockey Florent Geroux, a native of Argentan, France, became naturalized as a United States citizen Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s a great honor,” Geroux said. “It’s truly home here. I’m very happy that I passed the test and was able to officially become an American.”

“The timing was quite interesting for the test,” agent Doug Bredar said. “(Geroux) was scheduled to ride Gun Runner in the Pegasus World Cup, but the test was the day before in Chicago. Thankfully he passed the test and his flight got to Gulfstream on time.

"Then, the naturalization ceremony was in Bowling Green, Ky., during the last week of the Fall Meet at Keeneland where we were battling for leading rider. We got lucky there was another ceremony (Wednesday) in Louisville.”

Geroux, 31, spent more than 22 years in France before coming to the U.S. in 2007 to work for trainer Patrick Biancone. However, an injury at Keeneland sidelined Geroux for several months and he went back to France while he recovered.

In 2010, Geroux returned to the U.S. and was based in Chicago for five years until he moved to Kentucky in 2015.

Geroux began Thursday with eight Spring Meet wins at Churchill Downs, his home track, most notably a half-length triumph with Monomoy Girl in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).