Our questions are answered by the Louisiana veteran who retired last weekend after a 40-year career in the saddle featuring 5,118 victories and nearly 33,000 rides
Gerard ‘G-Money’ Melancon took the final ride of a 40-year career at Fair Grounds in New Orleans on March 24, signing off with a fourth-placed finish on Good N Sassy in a maiden special weight.
A veteran of the circuit in and around his native Louisiana, the 56-year-old retired with a considerable haul of 5,118 wins from nearly 33,000 rides, having ridden his first winner in February 1984.
“I’m healthy, business has kind of slowed down the last couple of years so rather than fight my weight, which has been an issue since day one, it’s not worth me staying in tip-top shape to ride the few horses I’m riding,” he explains.
Melancon will take on a new role as a jockey agent representing Joe Stokes and bug rider Marlon Del-Cid. Home is a ten-acre spread in Scott, Louisiana, where he has two Airbnb properties, and also takes in lay-up horses with his wife Annette.
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
Pat Day (right) has always been my idol and I learned more from him than from any other rider. From watching him and riding with him, I really picked up some great pointers.
I loved his patience and the way he handled horses, everything about him. His presentation to people, he was a first-class gentleman, everything about him was what I wanted to be.
Like me he used to wear a nasal strip, but I didn’t get that from him! I always had sinus trouble.
Which is your favourite venue, and race, anywhere in the world?
My favourite racetrack to ride was Delta Downs. It is a bull ring and the key to riding it was being patient. I am more of a closing rider.
My favourite race for sure is the Delta Jackpot which I won twice. They were probably the two most exciting days of my career. The race was worth $1 million and they were giving Kentucky Derby points for it.
I won it for Asmussen in 2011 on Sabercat and in 2013 on Rise Up for Tom Amoss but neither one made it to the Derby. I never did ride in the Derby. I had three opportunities but I got in trouble when I was 18 years old over race-fixing in 1986 and I was denied a licence in Kentucky for over 30 years.
I went back in 2019 for the first time since 1986 and won the G3 Lukas Classic [on Mocito Rojo]. I won the Super Derby [at Louisiana Downs] on Fantasticat in 2004 so that’s my Derby.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
Bonapaw was my favourite racehorse. I won 11 stake races on him and the people were very loyal to me. The Richard brothers, who were twins, kept me with the mount when many top riders in the country wanted to ride him. I got to ride him at the Dubai World Cup meeting where he finished sixth in the Golden Shaheen. I won my only Grade 1 on him, the Vosburgh at Belmont in 2002. So he was my special horse.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
Winning the Delta Jackpot on Sabercat was one of the happiest days of my career. To win a $1m race at the track I started out on when the purses were $1,800 was something I will never forget.
I’d never won a race worth that m
uch so it felt really good. I did later get to ride in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but although I didn’t ride in many races like that I am very satisfied with my career.
God has been good to me and my wife and she is the reason I have been so successful. She is my backbone. We’ve been together since we were 15 years old.
We’ve been through thick and thin, up and down, and she stuck with me. I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She’s the greatest.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
I would kick HISA out of the industry. It’s the government trying to run our industry and we don't need that. It has no jurisdiction in Louisiana and I am part of the lawsuit which is trying to keep them away.
The Racing Commission in Louisiana is fantastic. They have been doing great things since they started. They don’t need nobody telling you what needs to be done.
They [HISA] want you to whip your horse six times with a whip that’s like a fly swatter. It’s a ridiculous rule. Our state vet looks at every horse, feels every horse that runs. They want their own people to do these things. They want trainers to do things that are just unbelievable. Where do they get their money? From the fines they put on jockeys and trainers. It’s stupid.
Gerard Melancon was speaking to Jon Lees
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