The life of a jockey is not an easy one. In addition to the constant need to condition their bodies and keep their weight low, they put their lives at risk every time they hop in the saddle. No matter how much success they have, no matter how skilled they are, their entire career can be altered in just a moment if an accident occurs at the wrong time.
Luis Rivera Jr. narrowly avoided that scenario at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 15, right as his career appears to be on the upswing.
The young Puerto Rican rider was aboard Rock Harbor in the eighth race when the 4-year-old filly tore a tendon in her front ankle and fell in the stretch. Luckily, Rock Harbor was back on her feet after a few moments and was transported to nearby Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, where she was resting comfortably Friday night.
Rivera stayed down on the course for several minutes and was eventually transported by stretcher to an awaiting ambulance. He was taken to Saratoga Hospital to have his left leg and hip further evaluated.
Twelve hours and 15 minutes later, Rivera was back at work.
"I still have a little bit of a pain in my hip," Rivera said Saturday morning, "but I'm actually good. Thank God."
Before the sun rose Aug. 16, he was legged back into the saddle for the first time since the incident. It was no ordinary saddle either: the saddle of 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.
Working with trainer Kenny McPeek this summer, Rivera impressed the trainer with his work ethic and willingness to be available for the team. In recent weeks, he has been entrusted by McPeek to breeze his most important horses: Thorpedo Anna and her 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning stablemate Mystik Dan.
"I try to anticipate who's going to be the next generation, and I think he's one of those," McPeek said. "He seems like a classy young man. He has a good presence, a hard worker. He's young and hungry, I think that's one of those things you look for."
Rivera said one of his main concerns while riding in the ambulance Friday evening was that he was scheduled to ride three of McPeek's horses Saturday, wanting to reward the trainer's faith with a victory.
"That's the backer we all need," Rivera said. "We all need a good trainer behind you that is pushing you to go to the next level. I'm glad he's doing it for me."
Not knowing who he was scheduled to ride when he arrived at the barn, he received a nice surprise that Thorpedo Anna would be his first ride since the fall.
"I appreciate Kenny, that he's giving me his confidence to work one of his most important horses," Rivera said. "It feels good, every time you're on top of her, you feel like, 'Damn, I'm actually working the Horse of the Year.' It's amazing."
The work was a crucial one, the daughter of Fast Anna's final breeze ahead of her Aug. 23 engagement in the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1). Working solo, Rivera guided her through four furlongs in :48.28.
"Today's work was one of the best ones ever," Rivera said. "I told (McPeek's assistant trainer) Francisco (Serrano) that she was feeling better than ever today. I've got confidence in her."
The son of a jockey, Rivera knew from early on that his calling in life was to be on horseback.
"That was the only thing I wanted to do," he said. "When people asked me what I want to be when I grew up, I said I want to be a jockey."
After getting his start as a jockey at Puerto Rico's Hipódromo Camarero in January 2023, he began riding in Maryland that February. Spending the spring and summer riding around the Mid-Atlantic, he began riding regularly in New York that fall.
Fast forward to 2025, he's currently riding his second full summer at Saratoga against the best riders in the country.
"There's nothing like here," Rivera said of Saratoga. "The fans, the vibe, coming out here in the morning to work; it's so cool here. It's different."
For any young rider, Saratoga is the place you want to be seen. Even though he may not get the top mounts in the afternoon yet, Rivera recognizes what being entrusted with horses like Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan in the mornings can do for the future of his career.
"People see you working good horses and they're like, 'Oh, this guy's doing something right because he's working those horses for Kenny,'" Rivera said. "Trainers here pay attention; they look at everything here."
