Nationally prominent jockey Shane Sellers will be continuing his comeback from retirement as the 73rd season of live racing at Delaware Park kicks off on Saturday, May 1. The 116-day meeting will feature live racing on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with Thursday live cards scheduled from July 15 through August 26. First race post time is 1:15 p.m.

From 1983 to 2004, Sellers, 43, was well on his way to a memorable and elite career, winning more than 4,000 races. The Erath, Louisiana native was the leading rider at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and Arlington Park many times over. He rode in the Kentucky Derby 13 times. He won the Florida Derby twice and the Louisiana Derby twice, and won the Ashland and Blue Grass Stakes three times each. He won two Breeders’ Cup races. Some of his notable mounts included Skip Away, Pulpit, Black Tie Affair, Countess Diana and Buck’s Boy.

Sellers decided to take some time away from the game in 2004 because he had burned so many bridges and exhausted himself out while advocating for jockey issues, including lobbying for tracks to improve catastrophic insurance coverage for jockeys. He decided to step away from the game until July 2009, when he started his comeback by guiding the Mark Guidry trained Ide Ball to victory in a $25,000 claiming race at Evangeline Downs, the track where he won his first career race.

“I understood that I left the game with some baggage and I knew there was going to be some people not coming my way, so I knew I had to depend upon my ability,” Shane Sellers said. “When I was down and out and really did not have anybody, I turned to God. He got me back. That is what I ask every day. I do not ask to win. I ask for him to let me ride to the best of my ability and be confident. I understood for my comeback to be a success that was how I was going to make it happen.”

Sellers then posted strong numbers at the recently concluded Fair Grounds meet where he finished fifth in the standings with a record of 49 wins, 61 seconds, and 53 thirds with purses earned of $1,881,265.

“I had an unbelievable meet on a lot of different levels,” said Sellers. “I finished fifth in the standings and I finished near the top in purses earned. I went into the Fair Grounds meet with an open mind and with the attitude to change what everybody thought of me. If I accomplished that it would be have been a successful meet, and I did, though it took a little longer with some. I rode for some people that I thought would never give me a shot again, so it gave me hope that at 43 years old I can still compete with these kids even though I had been away from riding for nearly five years. On all those counts, I feel I was successful.”

Sellers decided to make Delaware Park his next challenge on his comeback tour for two reasons – the opportunity to continue to ride good horses and a suggestion by the 2009 leading trainer.

“After the Fair Grounds meet, I wanted to find a track that would allow me to continue to ride good horses,” Sellers said. “I left the game riding good horses, I rode good horses at the Fair Grounds over the winter and I wanted to find a track where I could continue to ride good horses. I have ridden at every possible level and I wanted to get back there. I thought about a couple different tracks. Cody Autrey mentioned something about riding some of his horses at Delaware Park. Honestly, it was something I never thought of, but there were so many people coming from the Fair Grounds to here, so I started talking to them and they said they would give me shot. So I really started thinking Delaware Park might be the right track for me. For six months I could go to a nice place and ride for these people and when they go back to the Fair Grounds, hopefully I will have the opportunity to ride for them there. It seemed like a win-win situation.”

Previously, Sellers has only been to Delaware Park a handful of times – mostly to ride in stake races – but he is well aware of the Delaware Park charms.

“I know Delaware Park has a tough competitive meet,” said Sellers. “I know I am going to have to come here and work hard and do whatever I need to do, but I am hungry and I want it again. This place is really amazing. I love golf and it was pretty cool driving in and seeing the golf course right there. The racetrack and stable area are beautiful and it really reminds of Saratoga and Keeneland. A real laid back nice place. I have been to the track and it seems like a great track with a real good feel. I do not know if it is just because I am so happy to be back in the game or what, but so far I am really enjoying myself.”