Roman grateful for ‘most improved rider’ award
AFTER RIDING 50 winners last season and finishing fourth in the jockeys’ title race, Raddesh Roman has had a strong start to the 2024 season and was recently named the most improved jockey. Roman, who currently sits in second place on 18 victories, two behind Tevin Foster, says this is just a sign of greater things to come.
“It’s a very good feeling, and I believe this is just the beginning. It didn’t really come as a surprise because I knew that I had the ability, so I decided to just take the game serious, get a good agent, and move forward,” he stated.
The talented rider shared that there are a few things on his agenda for the 2024 season and that he is of the opinion that staying dedicated to his craft will allow him to achieve that level of success.
“I just have to continue to work hard and dedicate myself to the game. Winning the jockeys’ title and Triple Crown is what I’m hoping to achieve this season,” he added.
Roman, who started riding in 2018, shared that it is now very competitive among jockeys at the track but that he is only focused on what he can control and he is only focused on winning as many races as possible.
“Track is fairly competitive, but I just have to do my part and win whenever I get the good mounts. We’ve only gone two months in the jockeys’ championship, and we have 10 more months to go, so I’m not going to say anyone in particular is my competition, but I will just continue to ride well and win as many races as possible,” Roman shared.
While he fancies watching a lot of North American jockeys in action, Roman revealed that it was a family member who he really idolised. He saw him winning multiple championships at Caymanas Park and he motivated him to become a jockey.
“I enjoy watching the likes of Luis Saez, John Velazquez, Irad Ortiz, and Jose Ortiz on the North American circuit, but from I was a little boy growing up, I watched my cousin Omar Walker in action at the track, and he became my idol,” he shared.
Despite being only six years into his profession, Roman has already had classic victories under his belt, with two of those coming aboard Blue Vinyl. Roman believes that, apart from winning his first race atop SHE’S SYMBOLIC, those two races are the ones that have stood out the most.
“My most memorable races would most definitely be winning the 2000 Guineas and the St Leger,” Roman said.