Delta Jockey Hurt

[Buddha]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/61574.html

Jockey Christina Gray, who was involved in a two-horse spill at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., on Friday night, was listed in serious condition at Memorial Hospital in Lake Charles, La., on Monday.

She fractured two vertebrae and will likely need surgery, according to a family member who also said her condition has improved since Friday. Gray, 34, was thrown from her mount, Tell a Calm, when the horse fell on the second turn of a one-mile race at Delta.

Gray was treated and released by the nearest hospital, a small facility in Sulphur, La., on Friday, then was brought to Memorial.

Don LeBlanc, the other rider involved in the spill, was not seriously injured, said a family member.

[Buddha]

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=51681&subsec=2

an updated story. no paralysis, but a crushed kidney and spleen, and broken vertebrae

[PaceAdvantage]

I learned a long time ago not to ever dismiss lightly what these guys and gals do on a day-in and day-out basis.

Of course, nobody is forcing them to ride horses for a living, but you can't deny what's needed to face this kind of possible outcome every single day. It's right up there with other highly dangerous professions....

Let's all hope and pray for a full recovery.

[Pace Cap'n]

Here is a link containing some background information on Ms. Gray, written by someome doing a story on jockeys and their weight struggles:

http://www.escribe.com/sports/derby/m44413.html

[ranchwest]

Originally posted by PaceAdvantage
I learned a long time ago not to ever dismiss lightly what these guys and gals do on a day-in and day-out basis.

Of course, nobody is forcing them to ride horses for a living, but you can't deny what's needed to face this kind of possible outcome every single day. It's right up there with other highly dangerous professions....

Let's all hope and pray for a full recovery.

Yes, I know that at least two jockeys have died from injuries at DeD.

One of the Sam's, I believe it was J.D. Sam, was in a race and I believe he hit a pole and it killed him. If I recall correctly, there was a lawsuit and it led to some reforms in the way poles were built and placed.

Then there was a jockey who primarily rode QH's who was killed when his horse acted up in the gate for a workout. I don't recall his name off-hand.

Riding is definitely a risky business.

That hospital in Sulphur is about 15 or 20 minutes from the track. It is an OK facility, but without many specialists. There are a lot more specialists at the three hospitals in Lake Charles, which is another 15 or 20 minutes away.

For those of you who have never been to DeD, Vinton, LA is a very small town and the track is two or three miles north of town. Basically, you might say it is out in the boondocks. There are no businesses near the track.