Marlon St. Julien facts for kids

Marlon St. Julien was born on February 13, 1972, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is an American professional jockey, which means he rides horses in races. He is famous for his career in Thoroughbred horse racing.

In the year 2000, Marlon St. Julien made history. He became the first African-American jockey in 79 years to ride in the famous Kentucky Derby race. He rode a horse named Curule and finished in seventh place.

Early Career and Successes

Marlon St. Julien started his professional horse riding career in 1989. His very first race win happened at Evangeline Downs.

He quickly became a top rider at several racetracks. He was the leading jockey at Delta Downs in both 1993 and 1994. Later, he led the riders at Lone Star Park in 1998. In 1999, he was the top jockey at Kentucky Downs.

National Recognition

Marlon St. Julien's achievements were recognized on national television. In 2000, as part of Black History Month, ABC Sports aired a special program. It was called Raising the Roof: Seven Athletes for the 21st Century.

This show featured Marlon St. Julien along with six other famous American athletes. These included golf superstar Tiger Woods and tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams. The program was so good that it won a special award called the 2000 Media Eclipse Award for National Television - Features.

Life After Riding

In 2018, Marlon St. Julien had a serious accident while riding a horse. He fell at a racetrack in Iowa and suffered many injuries. He needed special hospital care and had surgery on his spine.

Because of these long-term injuries, Marlon St. Julien stopped riding horses professionally. In 2021, he started a new role in horse racing. He became an agent, helping other jockeys manage their careers.

Marlon St. Julien is also a father. His son, Even St. Julien, is a well-known social media personality in South Louisiana.