Jockeys Martin Garcia and Florent Geroux are set to return to riding on Thursday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, after both recovering from injuries sustained during separate accidents at the September Meet. Geroux will ride Donie Maronie for trainer Mark Casse in Race 3 at 1:58 p.m. ET and Schwarzenegger for Wesley Ward in Race 4 at 2:27 p.m., while Garcia is scheduled to pilot Cruising Again for trainer Dale Romans in Race 8 at 4:25 p.m.
Geroux suffered six broken ribs when his horse, Flip Flop Freak, fell during the fourth race on September 10 at Churchill Downs. He was hospitalized for over a week at the University of Louisville Hospital as doctors treated his multiple rib fractures. A week ago, Geroux began working horses again for trainer Bob Baffert and was aboard Salahudin for a solo half-mile in 47 seconds on October 25 at Churchill Downs, shortly before Salahudin secured third place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). “Everything felt good,” Geroux remarked. “I can’t wait to be back racing.”
Garcia, meanwhile, sustained a rib injury in a six-horse spill while riding Steve Wood in the second race on September 19 at Churchill Downs. He resumed working horses for Romans this past week and is also entered on two of his mounts this Saturday: Madeline’s Promise in Race 4 and C K Wonder in the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine in Race 10.
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on November 4, 2026, in the News section.
Fan Take: The return of Martin Garcia and Florent Geroux is a significant boost for horse racing fans, as both riders bring skill and excitement back to the track after serious injuries. Their comebacks not only highlight the sport’s resilience but also promise thrilling competition for upcoming races, keeping the spirit of racing alive and inspiring.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
