Desormeaux Rising on Southland Tracks

Since he arrived in Southern California in late February, Kent Desormeaux steadily has become a force among the world’s top jockey colony. Through 36 racing days, he was second in the Del Mar standings, behind only Pat Valenzuela and ahead of such riders as Gary Stevens, Eddie Delahoussaye and Laffit Pincay.

It has been more than seven months since Desormeaux, 20, moved his permanent base from Maryland, where he led the nation in victories three consecutive years (1987-89), won two Eclipse Awards and set a record for most winners in one year (598, in 1989).

He began riding regularly in California, at Santa Anita, on Feb. 14. Things weren’t easy in the beginning.

“The first couple weeks I came in here, I won some races, and some people didn’t seem to like that,” he said in his faintly Cajun dialect. “It was like I was nobody again. I had to gain respect all over.”

After dominating in Maryland for 3 1/2 years, Desormeaux was torn between moving to New York and California. He chose the latter, despite warnings that he would struggle because of the strong competition.

But he has not flopped here. He finished ninth at Santa Anita despite missing the first six weeks of the meet, then sixth at Hollywood Park. Other riders didn’t particularly like his brashness and aggressiveness, and especially the threat he posed to them.

“There were a lot of races I came back to the (jockeys’) room, and it didn’t matter what I was doing out there, it always seemed it was the wrong thing to them. That kind of situation,” Desormeaux said.

“I had to change a little bit. No more shoving horses around. Of course, I was still race-riding, and if I had a chance to shove ‘em up some heels, they were going to get that. I think because I kept doing that, I gained their respect.”

When Desormeaux arrived with his agent, Gene Short, trainers “didn’t throw us the best (horses) they had,” Desormeaux said. “I rode a 7-year-old maiden, and it was the second horse I won on. Another one was like 0-for-30, and I was in a lucky spot on that one, too.”

Their situation improved, and they settled in. Desormeaux said he loves Southern California, especially the weather.

“I went to a sports book in Tijuana, and they had racing from Pimlico,” he said. “There was mud everywhere, and I’m like, ‘Hello, Cally!’ Everybody had their mud pants on. I haven’t ridden on a muddy track here yet.”

Desormeaux never will dominate Southern California as he did Maryland. No one does. “The competition is just too stiff,” Short said. By anyone’s estimate, more than half the world’s top 15 riders are based in Southern California.

With all the purse money to be won, there’s enough to go around. “You win half the races and make twice the money,” Desormeaux said.