Pedro Monterrey Jr. did not have to wait long to find the winner’s circle again. After more than seven years away from competitive race-riding, the veteran jockey returned to action at Gulfstream Park and recorded a winner aboard Bodacious Queen on his fourth mount since making his comeback.
The return marks a significant new chapter for Monterrey, whose riding career began in 2003 at Calder. More than two decades later, the 45-year-old is back in the saddle, having undergone a major physical transformation and regained the weight required to compete in afternoon racing.
Pedro Monterrey Jr. returns to riding.
Monterrey stepped away from race-riding in 2019 after spending time competing at tracks including Suffolk and several Florida venues. He never completely left the racing world, however, continuing to gallop horses and work around the sport while preparing for what eventually became an unexpected return.
His biggest obstacle was weight. Monterrey had reached 165 pounds and knew that getting back to race-riding would require a sustained change in his lifestyle. He adopted a strict diet and maintained a demanding exercise routine, initially setting himself a target of 130 pounds.
It took around a year and four months to reach that goal.
Rather than stopping there, Monterrey continued to lose weight while remaining active around the horses. Eventually, the numbers brought the possibility of riding back into focus. His weight dropped into the range needed for race-riding, giving him the opportunity to consider a return that had once seemed unlikely.
By the time he reached the winner’s circle with Bodacious Queen, Monterrey weighed 117 pounds.
His first ride back came on July 18. Naturally, there were nerves attached to the occasion after such a lengthy absence, but the early experience provided the confidence needed to continue.
The breakthrough came with his fourth mount.
Returning successfully at Gulfstream Park is particularly meaningful for Monterrey, who has spent much of his career around Florida racing. Earlier in his career, he recorded stakes victories for several prominent trainers and competed alongside some of the leading riders of his generation.
Now, however, Monterrey says the motivation is less about proving anything and more about enjoying the competition again.
The years away have also given him a different perspective on racing. While he was no longer competing in the afternoons, his continued work galloping horses kept him closely connected to the sport and helped him maintain his feel for racehorses.
He now plans to return as a full-time jockey.
The winning comeback aboard Bodacious Queen provides an encouraging start. After more than 2,600 days away from the winner’s circle, Monterrey has shown that the long road back was worth taking.
At Gulfstream Park, the veteran jockey has begun another chapter of his career — this time with experience behind him, considerably less pressure and a renewed appreciation for the chance to compete.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz .