Desormeaux Resumes Riding Following Rehab, Suspension

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, out of racing since the winter due to a series of transgressions, resumed riding Nov. 18 at Del Mar. He piloted Her Perfect Vision  to a seventh-place finish in Del Mar's third race and later was fifth aboard Perfecto Amor  in the sixth race.

He had not ridden since Jan. 23 following an arrest for domestic abuse in Louisiana. Later this year, he was handed a 60-day suspension by California stewards for disorderly conduct at Del Mar in the fall of 2021. Stewards cited him for not following an agreement with the Winners Foundation, which assists frontside and backside workers troubled by alcohol, drugs, gambling problems, or mental illness.

Desormeaux, 52, addressed the domestic abuse and his long battle with alcohol abuse in an interview Friday with FanDuel TV. He called it "a bad scene in Louisiana. I have that handled."

Hall of Fame jockey @DesormeauxKent talks to @JoaquinJaime_ about his return to racing today @delmarracing! He rides #6 Perfecto Amor in Race 6. pic.twitter.com/9QfE0jOiyU

— TVG (@TVG) November 18, 2022

He said a most recent stint in rehabilitation, one he initiated as opposed to earlier ones that were ordered, has him clean. He has relapsed in the past.

He added that while he is licensed by the California Horse Racing Board, 1/ST Racing, which operates Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park in the state, continues to prohibit him from working at their facilities. He is hopeful he can mend fences with the track operator through his actions. Santa Anita's next meet begins Dec. 26.

"I would bring a character they would desire at their racetrack," he said of Santa Anita.