After 159 long days away from the racetrack, Leonel Reyes is ready to feel the thrum of hooves beneath him again. The seasoned jockey, who turns 40 this Sunday, will ride More Than a Shadow in Thursday’s Race 3, a one-mile maiden claimer on Gulfstream Park’s main track for owner-trainer Javier Gonzalez.
Reyes’ return marks the longest absence of his career, stemming from an open fracture to his left ankle sustained in a Nov. 2 spill at Gulfstream. It was nearly six years to the day after he suffered a broken right wrist and jaw in a separate accident in 2019, sidelining him for 146 days.
“I feel great. I am very happy to be getting back on the horses,” Reyes said after working at Gulfstream earlier this week. “There was a lot to do, but now I’m ready and excited to ride.”
A familiar figure in South Florida racing since his U.S. debut in 2016, Reyes is a two-time national champion in Venezuela and a nine-time meet titlist at Valencia’s National Racetrack. At the time of his injury, he had tallied 22 wins during the Sunshine Meet, including stakes victories aboard Khozalite, Willow Case, and Private Thoughts.
Reyes underwent surgery followed by 2 ½ months of intensive rehabilitation. By March 24, he was back in the saddle, breezing horses during the final week of the 2025-2026 Championship Meet. Represented by agent Jose Sanchez, Reyes will have mounts on three horses Friday and Saturday and six on Sunday at Gulfstream, with a notable reunion aboard Great Venezuela on Saturday’s $75,000 Golden Beach overnight handicap.
The 5-year-old mare, trained by Victor Barboza Jr., has been guided by Reyes in 13 of her 17 starts, including eight wins, with highlights like the 2025 Lightning City at Tampa Bay Downs and the Nicole’s Dream overnight handicap at Gulfstream. Reyes has never finished off the board on Great Venezuela, making their partnership one to watch.
“She is a very good horse. It’s special for me because I won a lot of races with her,” Reyes said. “I’m going to try to win again.”
Since 2021, Reyes has consistently surpassed 100 wins annually, peaking at 166 victories in 2022. His 2023 season produced a career-high $5.99 million in purses and his first U.S. riding title, leading Gulfstream’s Royal Palm Meet with 93 wins, 18 ahead of the runner-up.
Thursday’s Royal Palm Meet resumes with an eight-race card, kicking off at 12:50 p.m. The sequence includes the Rainbow 6 jackpot spanning Races 3-8. First up in the series is a one-mile maiden claimer for fillies and mares 3 and up, followed by a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight sprint for fillies and mares in Race 6.
Reyes’ comeback is more than a return to the saddle—it’s a testament to resilience, skill, and enduring passion for racing.
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