Erath to honor jockey

ERATH - The town of Erath is honoring one of its own by letting the world know it has a famous jockey from its town.
Randy Romero, who was born and raised in Erath, had a successful horse racing career from 1973 to 1999. He won 4,294 races from 26,091 mounts (16 percent), including 342 stakes. He had a purse earnings of $75,264,198.
He was elected into the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame May 27, 2010.
In 1975, Romero began his professional riding career at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette.
Nicknamed the “Ragin’ Cajun”, in 1983 at Oaklawn Park racetrack in Arkansas. Romero suffered a near career-ending injury when he received major burns to two-thirds of his body from a freak fire that erupted while taking a sauna.
After seven months of rehabilitation he returned to compete at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans where he won his third of four riding titles and set a track record with 181 wins.
Romero has since retired from horse racing and now lives in Lafayette.
Romero is battling health issues and in 2008 he had a kidney removed. He is suffering from Hepatitis C. Romero is having to receive dialysis at least three times a week.
His parents, Lloyd and Joyce Romero, live north of Erath on North Road. They approached Erath Mayor John Earl LeBlanc about making a sign along the La. 14 Bypass with the words, “Home of Hall of Fame Jockey Randy Romero.”
At Monday night’s Erath city council meeting, the aldermen approved the signs.
The two signs would be located on the east side of town and the west side, along the bypass.