One of the most exciting figures of the 2024 Woodbine season, PIETRO MORAN, might be only 19 years old, but he’s a true student of horse racing. The well-spoken and polite young man was likely well on his way to a Sovereign Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in Canada for this year, winning 55 races at Woodbine and seven more at Fort Erie.
Moran is currently sixth in the Woodbine rider standings by wins even though he has not ridden since September 10. That was Prince of Wales Stakes day at Fort Erie and he had just ridden Passioned to a fourth-place finish in the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. But in the very next race, his mount Mister Meseeks clipped heels and tumbled to the ground, tossing his young rider to the dirt.
It was a scary incident, all racing accidents are, and it left Moran with a broken bone in his back, a fractured rib and lacerations on his arm. The son of veteran rider David Moran and former jockey Maria had surgery and was hospitalized for a week.
Two months later, Moran has recovered well – the rib and cuts are healed and the repaired T8 vertebrae is coming along nicely. Now he just has to rein in his desire to get back in the saddle.
“I’m doing really good,” said Moran, who is one of eight Moran children. “At first it was really hard for me to imagine not being able to ride until the spring. But it’s a long process for the bone to heal properly but I am taking it slowly.”
Lovely weather in southern Ontario has allowed Moran to walk up to three hours in total a day, all while listening to horseracing podcasts. “I love to gain as much information as possible about the sport.”
On Saturday at Woodbine, one of the most significant horses in Moran’s young career, Fashionably Fab, his first stakes winner, competes in the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) and he hopes to be there to cheer her on.
It’s no surprise that Pietro wanted to be a rider from a young age given his pedigree – although most of his siblings aren’t quite as avid. Born in Ireland, Moran came to Canada with his family when he was six and he quickly was taken under the wing of his accomplished father.
The buzz was out well before he rode in his first race in September 2023. He won on his 11th mount and then stopped riding after 20 races to prepare for 2024.
After just one month of rising this year, Moran guided Terra Racing’s Fashionably Fab to victory in the Belle Mahone Stakes (G3). Trainer Kevin Attard had been a big supporter of Moran and gave the young man his first stakes opportunity.
The wins came fast and furious before the unfortunate accident.
“It was even better than I thought it would be. To be able to ride in the Plate and Prince of Wales and getting that first stakes win so quickly. It was one of the best feelings.”
When Fashionably Fab was entered in the Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) at Woodbine just days after the accident, Attard and Terra Racing’s Romeo family agreed that David Moran should ride their filly. He won and dedicated the win to his injured son.
Moran is attending Guelph-Humber College near Woodbine and studying kinesiology as well as keeping up on the race results.
“[Kinesiology] is a lot of work, but it’s really interesting. And it is a subject that corresponds with being an athlete.”
Moran hopes to personally thank all his supports for his riding opportunities and for reaching out to him and his family since the accident. “I can’t wait to get back and thank everyone. And I can’t wait to get back to riding and try to be the best I can be.”
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