Jockey Javier Castellano plans on returning to race riding on May 1 at Oaklawn Park, 37 days after testing positive for coronavirus, per a report from Daily Racing Form’s David Grening.
The Hall of Fame rider has not ridden in a race since March 15, nine days before testing positive for the COVID-19 virus on March 24. Castellano returned to New York on Tuesday, after spending two weeks at his mother’s Florida home. He was permitted to fly by Florida health officials following two additional tests for coronavirus. The results have not been reported, but Castellano has remained symptom-free.
“I feel good,” Castellano told Grening. “I never had any symptoms. The scary part is people can have it and you don’t know it.”
Prior to the March 28 Florida Derby card, the four-time Eclipse Award winner and other jockeys set to ride at Gulfstream Park were administered coronavirus tests. Castellano’s came back positive.
Castellano, 42, last competed at Fair Grounds in New Orleans on March 14 and then piloted two horses at Gulfstream Park on March 15.
Castellano awaits details for protocols Oaklawn Park would set in place for him before being permitted to ride at the Hot Springs, Ark.track. Anticipated mounts include British Idiom in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes on March 1 as an assignment in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby the next day.
