TOP NOTCH JOCKEY RAJIV MARAGH PLANNING TO MOUNT UP AGAIN

KINGSTON, Jamaica - He has won close to 2,000 races on the North American circuits and he has ridden four winners at the Breeders’ Cup, regarded as the most prestigious race day in the world. He has ridden over 30 grade one winners and has been injured several times in his career, including a major injury in 2015 that kept him out of the saddle for 18 months.

Jamaican-born jockey Rajiv Maragh has not ridden since January of this year, with his last mount being at the Gulfstream Park racetrack in Florida, USA.

Maragh is using the opportunity away from the saddle to develop his growing business, a food delivery service entity called Road Jockey, which started in 2021 in Montego Bay.

But the racing bug in Maragh’s blood has started to pulsate and rush again. He is now planning a return to the saddle, with the recently announced US$125,000 Mouttet Mile the main centre of attention at this time.

“I left Jamaica in my early teens and got fully into race riding while growing up in the United States.

“Despite leaving Jamaica at an early age, I was always around horses as my family is firmly embedded in the sport of racing. I would jump up on horses and walk them around the stables, but I have never ridden in a competitive race in Jamaica. I have always wanted to ride at Caymanas Park as it is a place that I know very well, this is the place where I have seen my family, father Colin Maragh, and uncle Allen Maragh ply their trade over the years before they also migrated to the United States. My uncle Allen is a winner of the Jamaica Derby and is best associated with the outstanding Jamaican horse Miracle Man,” Rajiv shared with this publication.

Why now? Why the urge to put on the boots, the silky colours with a whip in hand to mount up again?

Rajiv Maragh explains, “ I have had a good career riding in the United States, mainly in New York and Florida. I have also ridden winners in Japan, plus I have gone on top of horses in Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and Dubai, but never in Jamaica in a race at Caymanas Park. That must be corrected as I am always a Jamaican first and foremost, and what better time than now. I just feel the time is right as my business continues to grow with a move to Kingston, and as a result I am here in Jamaica on a regular basis.”

Being away from the saddle for 10 months, the celebrated jockey fully understands that he has to get back to the difficult regime of losing weight through consistent dieting and daily exercise routines to keep his weight in check and he has to rid himself of the rustiness occasioned by his absence from the saddle.

“I have decided that I want to ride in Jamaica. As such, I am fully aware of what needs to be done. As of last week I have started to diet as my weight has to come down to about 115 to 117 lb. At present, I weight about 132-135 lb. On Tuesday [October 18] the work in the gym starts. On Tuesday, also, I will be going to Caymanas Park from time to time during morning exercise and hopefully I will be able to get some horses to exercise.

“This will aid in not only getting me in shape but to reacquaint with the horses,” Maragh said.

Rajiv visited Caymanas Park on Saturday last (October 15) and was overwhelmed by the interest of horsemen and punters who he spoke with about the upcoming Mouttet Mile. The Mouttet Mile is scheduled to have its inaugural staging on Saturday, December 3.

“I heard when the announcement was made about the Mouttet Mile. Then when I visited the track on Saturday, many people were talking about this Mouttet Mile. People are looking forward to this race [Mouttet Mile], and I want to be a part of this race day in December,” he said.

The plan of action for Maragh is to continue his dieting and gym work before returning to Florida in early November where he will ride at Gulfstream Park. Following his time at Gulfstream he will then return to Jamaica two weeks or so before December 3 to try and earn a ride in the big event.

“Yes, that is my plan. I would also like to encourage the promoting company to put together a jockeys’ championship on the day with, if possible, riders from overseas. This, in my view, would add much excitement and interest to the day.

“I have already stated and given a commitment that I will try, as much as possible, to engage the services of jockeys from overseas for this jockeys’ championship,” said the man who piloted Groupie Doll to consecutive victories in the Breeders’ Cup fillies and mares sprint.