Desormeaux to Return to Riding After Rehab
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Photo: Rick Samuels
Kent Desormeaux after his Preakness win aboard Exaggerator.
Hall of Fame jockey and three-time Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Kent Desormeaux issued a brief statement June 4 through his agent J. R. Pegram, stating that he will return to riding in New York June 9, following a brief stay in an alcohol rehabilitation program at Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah.
"It was time to take a sober look at my life and take this step," said Desormeaux, who is set to ride Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator in the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). According to Pegram, Desormeaux, who last rode at Santa Anita May 28, is scheduled to ride June 9 at Belmont Park to pilot Shrinking Violet in the $150,000 Intercontinental Stakes for trainer Wesley Ward.
Desormeaux, 46, was taken off of his final two mounts last July 29 because of a failed breathalyzer test at Del Mar. The jockey has also been taken off mounts for alcohol-related violations in the past while riding at Belmont and Woodbine.