Jockey hangs on for win after horse jumps a puddle of pee

Despite his horse jumping over a puddle of urine on the track in the final yards, Romero Maragh was not only able to stay on Mama’s Gold, but continue riding him to victory in a 1 1/8-mile allowance-optional claiming race Thursday at Aqueduct.

According to the Equibase chart for the race, Thursday’s eighth at the New York track, Mama’s Gold was being urged to stay on “before jumping a puddle of urine 70 yards from the finish.” Maragh slipped to the outside as the horse landed, but kept his balance well enough to remain astride and finish the race. Mama’s Gold, the 3-1 second choice in the field of seven, crossed the wire four lengths clear of second-place Magical Ways.

Mama’s Gold is a 4-year-old colt by Bolt d’Oro out of the Speightstown mare In Spite of Mama. The James Ferraro trainee led at every call in Thursday’s race, his usual running style. In his previous start Oct. 27 he beat New York-breds in the Empire Classic in gate-to-wire fashion, also at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct. He won that race with Maragh in the irons as the 40-1 longest shot on the board.

The puddle was in an area right behind where the starting gate had been for the beginning of the race.

Despite the acrobatics, Mama’s Gold earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for the win, according to Daily Racing Form.