Rajiv Maragh (born July 9, 1985) is a Jamaican jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. An Indo-Jamaican, he is the son of a jockey who rode in Jamaica before relocating to Florida where he began a career as a horse trainer.
| Rajiv Maragh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | July 9, 1985 Spanish Town, Jamaica |
| Career wins | 1,673 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Cliff Hanger Stakes (2005, 2008) Mac Diarmida Handicap (2006) Violet Handicap (2007) Ashland Stakes (2008) Bed O' Roses Handicap (2008) Bourbon Stakes (2008) Distaff Handicap (2008) Alcibiades Stakes (2009) Apple Blossom Handicap (2009) Ballerina Stakes (2009) Beldame Stakes (2009) First Lady Stakes (2009) Florida Oaks (2009) Go For Wand Handicap (2009) Just A Game Handicap (2009) Saratoga Dew Stakes (2009) Knickerbocker Handicap (2009) Yaddo Handicap (2009) Louisiana Derby (2010) Hill Prince Stakes (2010) King's Bishop Stakes(2011) Kent Stakes (2013) Classics & Breeders' Cup Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (2011) Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint (2012) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (2012) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (2013) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Music Note, Diamondrella, Caleb's Posse, Wicked Strong, Mucho Macho Man, Main Sequence, Groupie Doll | |
Rajiv Maragh rode his first winner at Tampa Bay Downs on February 1, 2003.[1] He got his big break in 2008 when he was 14th in the national earnings list. Rapidly developing into a top jockey since moving north to compete at NYRA tracks, in 2009 he has been a winner of several Grade 1 races.
He was seriously injured in a spill at Belmont Park in July 2015 and has been cleared in November 2016 to start riding again.[2]
He rode Mucho Macho Man to a 3rd-place finish at the 2011 Kentucky Derby.[2] He rode his first Breeder's Cup winner on Caleb's Posse in the dirt mile.
In 2017 he relocated to California[3] and the same year was honored with Comeback Jockey Of The Year Award.[4]
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (2005–present) | Rank by earnings |
|---|---|
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005 | 72 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006 | 62 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 40 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 14 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009 | 8 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2010 | 19 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2011 | 11 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2012 | 14 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2013 | 18 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2014 | 16 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2015 | 93 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2016 | 343 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2017 | 26 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2018 | 67 |
References
edit- ^ "For aspiring young jockey Rajiv Maragh, Saratoga is dreamland". New York Daily News. August 6, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Rhiannon Walker (May 6, 2017). "Rajiv Maragh overcomes devastating injuries to ride in Kentucky Derby". Andscape. ESPN. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ Frank Angst (December 14, 2017). "Maragh Relocating to Southern California". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ Jennie Rees (November 20, 2017). "Rajiv Maragh Honored With 'Comeback Jockey Of The Year' Award". Paulick Report. Retrieved May 12, 2018.