by Greg Thompson, Stallionesearch.com

VINTON, LA—MAY 5, 2016—Multiple Grade 1 winning jockey J.R. Ramirez made his comeback attempt to his career as a race rider with a third-place finish in the first race at Delta Downs on Wednesday.

Ramirez’s racing career began in 1997, according to AQHA records. Hailing from the famous race-riding Ramirez family, J.R. has been getting on racehorses from an early age. In the span of his first stint as a jockey, Ramirez sits at 49th on the all-time wins list with 1,365 victories. In a career that shows career earnings of $18,550,635, Ramirez was victorious in 82 stakes races, including sixteen-G1 events.

Ramirez was aboard Jamie Gomez trained Jess You And I for the victory in the 2006 Golden State Million Futurity(G1). He was also had mounts aboard such notable runners as: Higher Fire, Oak Tree Special, Tac It Like a Man, while being victorious in the sixteen Grade 1 stake races.

Four-Year Absence

Beginning in 2013, Ramirez took a four-year sabbatical from the sport in order to deal with concerns off the racetrack. While being regarded as a highly-talented race rider in his profession, Ramirez was having to deal with personal and family issues at home. This included the tragedy of the death of his young-son, "J.J.", in 2009.

"When I stopped riding four years ago I felt it was what I needed to do for myself and for my family," said Ramirez. "My family life and my battle with depression were just getting out of control, and I hoped that spending some time around my family would straighten things out."

With the conclusion of his career as a jockey coming too light in 2013, Ramirez didn’t find the transition of life away from the racetrack very easy.

"I didn’t find work for quite some time when I first left the racetrack," said Ramirez. "I went without a job for the first three-months after the time I stopped riding. I had gotten away from my riding weight, and put on 20 or so pounds. So just going back to being a jockey was not an immediate option. So I took the recommendation of a friend, and went down south to see if I could find work down on an oil rig."

Legal Trouble

It was on that trip down towards the Laredo-area seeking work in the oil field that led to the legal trouble that hampered Ramirez in an already tough time of transition in his life. Ramirez would find himself stopping at a gas station after failing to find the work he sought, and being approached to give a ride to what turned out to be illegal-aliens.

"When I look back at it, I realize I had just made some dumb decisions while away from the racetrack," said Ramirez. "I was offered money at the time when I was needing money to give a ride to these individuals. It was already past the border checkpoint, and I made the wrong decision to give them a ride in my vehicle going north. Later down the road we were stopped on a routine check, and that’s when I was arrested. I was given probation, and I just regret that I ever got myself in that situation."

Road Back To Race-Riding and Seeking Redemption

After all the legal-issues, and family issues were settled down a bit, Ramirez eventually would find work closer to his home in Texas. Working at his jobs away from the racetrack made him feel that he could be doing more for his family, and that he had a better chance at providing for them with a return to the saddle. During his time off, Ramirez’s weight rose from riding weight of 126 lbs., to his highest weight of 176 lbs.

"I decided to get myself back into shape to get back to racing, but also to start feeling better," said Ramirez. "Not only where my ankles and my feet hurting at the higher weight, I just was not feeling my best overall. So I began to exercise, and watch my diet. Eventually my weight went back down and right now I feel very good at where I am at."

With the four-year absence from the racing world, Ramirez had plenty of time to ponder a comeback, as well as working on the image that he wants people to see of the type of person that he feels he is.

"Racing is really something I missed while I was out," said Ramirez. "I would think about it everyday and all day when I was on the path of getting back. A lot of people don’t really know the person that I truly am, and that is definitely me fault. During my career, especially the years following my son’s death, I was dealing with depression and I avoided a lot of communication with most people."

"I feel that I am really an easy going person, and certainly a better person than my reputation I have acquired from my previous stint in racing. I am very interested in working hard to show people that I am a changed man. I had to learn the hard way, and I am the first to admit that I made some dumb decisions, he added.

"I am going to just go out every morning and take care of business, and I feel that I have a lot of time to make up for. I often think about what I could have accomplished if I would have just stayed riding, and now I have my chance to redeem myself," Ramirez concluded.