Jockey Julien Leparoux eyeing July 1 return following back injury

Injured jockey Leparoux slated to return July 1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jockey Julien Leparoux is planning to return to racing July 1, more than six weeks after suffering a back injury at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Leparoux sustained a compression fracture in his vertebrae while riding in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on May 14. Filly Diva Delite unseated Leparoux after she clipped heels with another horse during the race. He managed to ride a pair of winners on the Preakness Stakes undercard the next day before the extent of the injury was discovered by an MRI.

The 26-year-old Leparoux has won or shared six riding titles at Churchill Downs. He began working out horses at the track Wednesday and says he plans to ride the final four days of the spring meet before heading to Saratoga for the summer.