News


Leading Rider In Nation For 2021 Returns To Training After Spill in June
Leading jockey Everardo Rodriguez began exercising horses this morning at Delta Downs, his first day back following a riding accident on June 3.

© Martin Trejo
Leading Rider In Nation For 2021 Returns To Training After Spill in June

By Greg Thompson, StallioneSearch.com

VINTON, LA–AUGUST 2, 2022–After experiencing a devastating spill at Delta Downs in June of this year, leading rider in the nation by wins for 2021, Everardo Rodriguez, has begun the road back to race riding this morning as he exercised horses at Delta Downs on his first day back.

The 33-year-old native of San Luis Potosí, and perennial leading rider in Louisiana, suffered a compression fracture in his back, and a brain bruise as a result on the spill at Delta Downs aboard Tf Fortunate One in a maiden race June 3. 

Doctors cleared Rodriguez for a return to his profession Monday, August 1st, and Rodriguez and his jockeys agent Gerald Thomas are set for a hopeful return to competition by mid-August.

"The plan is for him to begin the process of raising his fitness back up to where it was to be ready to ride races," said jockey agent Gerald Thomas. "Once he feels ready to race ride, we will start accepting mounts and get back to full swing here in Louisiana.  We are hopeful to be ready to give calls on horses going into the LQHBA Sale Futurity in the middle of August.  It could be sooner than that, but I am confident Everardo will tell me when he is ready."

Rodriguez, who led the nation in wins in 2021 with 147 victories, has won multiple leading rider titles at Quarter Horse meets in Louisiana.  He was the regular pilot of the millionaire two-year old winner Blood Money in 2021 with three-futurity victories that included wins in the Laddie Futurity(RG2), Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity(RG1) and the $1-Million Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1).

Delta Downs is conducting the 2022 Fair Grounds Quarter Horse meet that began on July 28 and continues through Saturday September 3rd.  The meet is highlighted on its closing day with the running of the $500,000-est. LQHBA Sale Futurity(RG1) on September 3rd.