Background
The son of Thoroughbred horse trainer Harold Theriot, he is a nephew of jockey Larry Melancon.
The son of Thoroughbred horse trainer Harold Theriot, he is a nephew of jockey Larry Melancon.
Jamie Theriot, who began riding on bush tracks in his native Louisiana, turned professional at age 16. On May 17, 2008, Theriot rode in his first American Classic, taking sixth place aboard Kentucky Bear in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. On June 18, 2008, he became the seventh rider in Churchill Downs history to ride six winners in a single day.
On May 23, 2009, Theriot was aboard Sky Mom in the Grade III Arlington Matron at Arlington Park when his horse angled to the outside and clipped Born To Be, ridden by Rene Douglas.
Born To Be clipped the horse running in front of her, knocking her unconscious and throwing her jockey Rene Douglas head-first into the track. Douglas was left paralyzed from the waist down due to the accident and Theriot was suspended for 30 days.