Rajiv Maragh Gets First Win Since Comeback

The second race at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 23 played out like so many outings in Rajiv Maragh's career—a heady trip aboard the race favorite, finished up with a vigorous hand-ride to the wire.

It was sight fans had grown accustomed to seeing from the veteran jockey over the years, but it was a vision the sport had been anxiously waiting to witness again since the events of July 10, 2015.

For the first time since returning to the saddle earlier this month, after being sidelined for nearly 16 months following a spill that summer day, Maragh was back in the winner's circle having guided Mike Repole's gelding Bass River Road to a three-quarter-length win at Aqueduct Wednesday .

"It's such an amazing feeling. I'm overcome with emotion, because it took such a long time to get here. It's really special," Maragh said. "I'm just thankful that people still give me opportunities. That's the hardest part. I'm lucky I have good people who always stood behind me throughout the years. Mike Repole is one of them. He's given me so much support. To have confidence in me coming off such a long stint, it means a lot to have the opportunity to ride these horses."

Maragh returned to riding Nov. 4, following a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation after suffering several broken vertebrae, a broken rib, and a punctured lung in an fall at Belmont Park. It was particularly devastating setback both emotionally and physically, as that July 2015 spill occurred just two months after Maragh had returned from a broken arm he sustained when Wicked Strong   clipped heels in the 2014 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I).

"There were a lot of low points, where you feel it's not going to happen," Maragh said. "When you have people reaching out to you and encouraging you to come back, it helps to motivate you. When times seemed gloomy, everyone around me helped me get here.

"I never really lost confidence (after not winning his first 25 races since returning). Win or lose, I tried to stick to my fundamentals. But it always helps to win. You always get more confidence as you go and win races."

Maragh, who won 1,673 races prior to his injury since taking out his jockey's license in 2003, has been the regular rider for such standouts as two-time champion female sprinter Groupie Doll and 2014 champion grass male and older male Main Sequence.