Since hanging up his tack in August of 2022, jockey Roberto Alvarado, Jr., has driven an 18-wheeler for Schneider National transporting chemicals around the country. He’s also worked hauling Thoroughbreds since last fall.
“I took a break (from race-riding). It got to the point where I needed some time off to clear my mind,” he said.
The 50-year-old Alvarado returned to the track about six weeks ago to pick up his career where it left off, and it looked as if he had never left in Wednesday's eighth race at Tampa Bay Downs. In his fifth start back, the Tampa resident won aboard Auger, an 8-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Nestor R. Rivera and trained by Xavier A. Rivera.
Auger paid $23.40 to win.
The victory was emotional for Alvarado, who won with his wife Marilu, their children Anthony and Nathalia and his father Roberto, Sr., in attendance. It was his 2,799th triumph in the United States in his 30-plus-year career.
“Driving trucks, I showed people jockeys can do a lot of stuff besides ride horses. People think because we retire, there is nothing else we can do,” he said. “But it’s hard to walk away from this business. I’m born to ride horses, and my body wanted to come back. I’m still strong, thank God I’m healthy and my body wanted to do something besides drive trucks.”
Alvarado said he plans to stay at Tampa Bay Downs through the current meet while keeping his next port of call open-ended for now.
“I might go to Delaware or Monmouth, but we’ll see what happens. There are a lot of opportunities out there,” he said.
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