BATCH of 1999 jockey graduate Ramon Parish, who returned to Jamaica recently for his first ride in nine years, finished fourth on Isotope for trainer Carl Anderson.

Parish left Jamaica in 2003 after posting his first winner as an apprentice aboard Mr Chip trained by Lorenzo Bloomfield. After the race he said: “I feel great to be back home in the saddle, riding on my training ground. I really feel pleased with the effort as it felt as though I had never left.”

Though gaining his riding licence in 1999, Parish admitted that his career as a jockey never got going until a year after, culminating in him winning the 1,000 Guineas aboard Awesome Power.

Then almost after his career tumbled with winning rides few and far between, and in an attempt to further his riding career, Parish made the bold move to try his luck in the United States.

“I only returned to the saddle earlier this year in May after sitting out for a period of seven years while recovering from an injury that I received in a spill at Gulf Stream Park in 2011.

“I did not win but I thought it was a pretty decent effort coming from practically last to finish fourth. At present, I am feeling completely healed and recovered from my injury. Since my return to the saddle, I have had the leg up at five or so tracks and in the process have ridden two good winners — one at Monmouth and another at Pen National. I have also been riding at Meadowland and Delaware Park. Before the mishap, I rode at Calder where I gained most of my successes, Gulf Stream Park and at Tampa Bay.

“At 39 years, I do believe that I am still young enough to make the grade as a very capable rider on almost any track where racing is conducted.

“My major achievement riding at Caymanas Park was winning the 1000 Guineas aboard Awesome Power in 2001. In the same breath, the biggest disappointment of my racing career was not winning the Jockeys’ Championship the same year. This was after losing out to many-time champion Charles Hussey by five winners.

“For the time being, I will be riding in Jamaica and abroad. I am here at this time as the tracks where I ride are closed, so I am going to ride here for a couple months and see how it turns out for me,” Parish stated.