Larry Melancon

Back in the days when I was in high school, I would work in the racing office at Jefferson Downs in the mornings as an entry clerk. This was before the days of computerized databases and electronically keyed-in entries. Entry blanks were bound by red glue as thick pads and filled out in pencil. Each form filled out one by one, as the jockey agents and trainers drifted into the racing office to do business. Entries were made in individual stalls for privacy and usually in a hushed tone so...

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Larry Melancon might not have been the top jockey at Churchill Downs during his long career, though he ranks among the winningest riders at the historic Louisville track even a decade after his retirement. But no Churchill Downs jockey can match the resilience and longevity of Melancon, whose tenure of riding full-time under the Twin Spires for 36 consecutive years is unprecedented. Melancon, whose first official race was in 1971, arrived at Churchill Downs for the 1974 spring session. Up through his retirement on July 4, 2010 at Churchill...

Former Jockey Larry Melancon passed away Thursday at his home in Louisville at age 65. He won 2,857 races with 43 of those being graded stakes with earnings of $60,629,774. He was seventh in all-time Churchill Downs win with 914 and stakes wins at the oval with 47. Melancon's top victory came aboard Bachelor Beau in the 1986 GI Blue Grass S. "The Churchill Downs family is deeply saddened to learn the news of former jockey Larry Melancon's passing," Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson said. "Larry was amongst the winningest...