Jockey Larry Melancon

Born: 08/07/55, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Resides: Louisville, Kentucky

Family: Heather, daughter; Lance, son 

In his lengthy and distinguished riding career of 35 years Melancon has become a household name with racing fans.  He hastens to say he has plied his craft at many Oaklawn meetings and won his share of Spa stakes.  

In a random inspection of Oaklawn records of stakes and handicaps, one learns Larry has won the American Beauty twice on Morris Code on who he also captured the Carousel.  The jockey won the Honeybee on Jetto and the Rebel and Crabapple aboard Phantom On Tour. 

In earlier years he took the King Cotton on Bold Ruckus, the Hot Springs on Cheyenne Nation and Rainbow Miss on Kathy T. 

“I have ridden some outstanding horses in my career. Gallant Bob, an Eclipse champion was one of them. Another was Guided Tour, who won four graded stakes in 2001.  I won a lot of races for Lynn Whiting, including stakes on Phantom On Tour, Big Pistol and Pineing Patty,” noted Melancon.           

“There was a Blue Grass Stakes on Bachelor Beau. My first stakes win ever at the New Orleans Fair Grounds was on My Charmer, who later produced Seattle Slew.  Patricia and Gus Blass II’s foundation mare was Fun And Tears on who I won the Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland. I used to ride Rapid Gray, a record setting sprinter. Rapid Gray, at one time, held the six furlongs mar of 1:08 flat here at Oaklawn,” said the jockey, now 53. 

Larry is the second most winner of stakes at Churchill Downs. 

Melancon said he was nine and weighed 45 pounds when he began riding at bush meetings in the Evangeline country of Louisiana. 

“As soon as I turned 16, I took out my license and began riding the recognized tracks,” he remembered.  He rode his first documented winner on a horse named Norman Bodet Sir, it coming September 28, 1971 at Jefferson Downs. 

He reigned as North America’s champion apprentice of 1972 when he rode 182 winners.