The Strongest Passion Against Fate: Altair Domingos Returned in Brazil with Two Wins and a Story That Sends Shivers Down the Spine

Without Warning, Half-Physically and with a Heart Full: The Jockey Who Shone with La Providencia Felt the Rush of Competition Again

Altair Domingos Dressed as a Jockey: An Image Once Thought Impossible to See Again / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

Altair Domingos' smile says it all. The jockey who once shone with La Providencia has returned to racing and to life itself. His comeback has sent shockwaves through the regional racing scene, as it marks the return of one of the best jockeys of recent years, a figure many thought would never wield the whip again after the 2021 accident in Palermo. The incident left him with lasting injuries, including a problem with the optic nerve in his left eye, forcing him to retire prematurely before even reaching 40 years old.

Known for his fierce competitiveness, the Brazilian gave his all to overcome physical obstacles, resulting in his surprising and successful return this Saturday in Tarumã, Curitiba, Brazil. Domingos won two of the five races in which he competed, including one alongside trainer Pedro Nickel Filho—the same trainer with whom he won numerous G1 titles in Argentina with La Providencia, and who also made a successful return after a few years away from the profession.

“I only returned to riding 40 days ago, and I hadn’t told anyone about my plan, not even my family. I’m still at about 30 or 40 percent physically, because it was such a short time, but it’s a great joy to be back,” says Altair in an exclusive interview with Turf Diario TV on Sunday night.

“It was amazing how much attention I received and the number of messages, most of them from Argentina. I miss it a lot because I have much more professional recognition there than in Brazil,” he adds, emotionally.

“I spent 4 years without riding, I gained a lot of weight, up to 65 or 66 kilos... The first day I rode 5 horses, the second day 6, and by the third day, I could hardly walk. I was stiff all over. It’s not easy to overcome that kind of inactivity. But I felt good, and many people asked me to return the previous weekend for the Grande Premio São Paulo, but I wanted to do it here in Curitiba, my hometown, where I started,” he confesses, sending a nod to his roots.

“The people supported me a lot. My whole history went through my mind. I chose the colt that was debuting for my comeback, I liked him. A little before the race, I was nervous, but once you’re on the horse, it all goes away. But yes, I did feel a cold in my stomach before," he recalls about those moments just before his return.

Altair shares a few details about the genesis of his comeback: “I never made any comments, not with my family, no one. I wanted to return, I always had it in my mind, but I didn’t know when the moment would come. I have a 3-year-old daughter, and when I looked at the pictures and the frames, I wasn’t in any of them; and that was something that pushed me to come back. I wanted the same with her.”

When asked about what his life was like during the 4 years, he responds with complete honesty: “It was very hard, I won’t lie. The first few months, I was in bad shape. That’s why I bought a stud farm in Curitiba and started working with a friend. I spent my whole life working like this; I left home when I was 9 to work and never stopped, but one day, it all just stopped.”

“I was used to racing every day. Training kept me a little busy, but I don’t like it—it’s a lot of responsibility. You have to give explanations, it’s not the same as racing, as being a jockey…”

When discussing what was the hardest part of his quick comeback, he is clear: “The weight. I gained a lot, a lot, and in 40 days, I lost 6 or 7 kilos, without taking any medication, just trotting, riding, and cutting back on food. I’m working with a very good personal trainer, and I’m going to keep working with him. I’m just below 58 kilos now, but I still need to lose a little more, though this is the hardest stage. But when I’m running, it’s easier.”

It’s impossible not to ask him if he’s thinking about coming back to race in Argentina, to which he answers: “I don’t have any plans yet, everything happened so quickly. In Palermo, I was taken off the roster after the accident, but I didn’t receive any compensation. I’m not in a lawsuit, nor do I want to get into that, but if it happens, I just want them to let me race. I’m not interested in anything else.”

He says Pedro Nickel told him that if he came back to train, he had to return to racing too. He also shares: “Among the good things about having stopped racing was being able to enjoy more time with my family. When I thought about it, Mateo was already a young man, and my daughter Nicole was 19; I didn’t even know them, I was hardly ever home. But I was already getting sick from not finding something to do that would fill the void I had.”

Altair Domingos fulfilled his wish of returning to racing, but he’s far from setting objectives. He’s taking it step by step and will see what his body tells him. “If I’m not well, there’s no point in racing. I have a lot of work ahead of me,” he says, bidding farewell after a weekend he had dreamed of for a long time.