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US Jockey Undergoes Surgery After Fall - 05-25-09
May 25 - It's often easy to forget just how dangerous horseracing can be for both horse and rider, a fact driven home with the news that jockey Rene Douglas had to undergo major surgery on Sunday to repair two badly compressed vertebrae in his back following a nasty spill on Saturday.
Douglas suffered the potentially life-threatening injury yesterday during the $150,000 Arlington Matron Handicap (Gr 3) at Arlington Park Racecourse near Chicago, Illinois, after his mount, Born to Be, was pushed out by Sky Mom, resulting in her clipping heels with Boudoir, which lead to her falling.
After falling, she rolled over onto Douglas and pinned him until track personnel could extract him. When he was finally released, it soon became obvious that the diminutive jockey was in urgent need of medical assistance and, as such, was rushed over to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.
Diagnosed with the serious back condition, the 42-year-old rider was transferred to Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, where he was expected to go under the knife in the early hours of Sunday morning. The mammoth surgery was expected to take up to 10 hours to ensure that Douglas could walk again.
Ahead of the lengthy and no doubt risky surgery, Douglas was put into a medically induced coma and was awoken for a brief time to visit with his wife before being taken to the OR. Although Douglas' worst injury was the compressed vertebrae, he also reportedly sustained a 'neck injury' and a few broken ribs.
After speaking to his doctors, the jockey's agent Dennis Cooper told reporters that Douglas' prognosis would likely be uncertain for 10 to 14 days, as the results of the surgery took effect. According to reports, Douglas was conscious after the accident and said that he did have some feeling in his arms and legs.
This is an encouraging sign that if the surgery is successful, that Douglas will hopefully be able to walk again and indeed ride again. As for Born to Be, her trainer Eric Coatrieux said he feared the filly may have hurt her back in the incident, although once in the detention barn at Arlington Park, she was able to stand.
Other Articles:
Cummings Could Win Queensland Oaks - 05-28-09Mr. Hot Stuff Unlikely Tip For Belmont Stakes - 05-27-09IHFA Announces World Thoroughbred Rankings - 05-27-09Borel Chalks Up Fourth Big Win On Brass Hat - 05-26-09Spice Route Solid favorite in Louisville Handicap - 05-23-09Strong Stablemates to Contest Milady Handicap - 05-22-09Jockey Greg Cheyne Gets Lucrative Sponsorship - 05-21-09Mine That Bird Preps For Belmont Stakes Win - 05-20-09
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| | 2009/11/20 11:35:16 AM |
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