“Jockey life isn’t for the faint of heart,” said Jamie Hernandez, wife of celebrity jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., in a social media post following the harrowing events on Sunday. On September 21, during the third race at Churchill Downs, the maiden race for $30,000 claimers, Hernandez Jr. was sent flying off Sgt. Garcia, when the horse injured its front leg near the 5/16th pole. And now, it looks like the American jockey is staring at an extended time on the hospital bed.
Sunday’s fall left Brian with seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a liver laceration. The wounds were treated with a minor surgery immediately after the fall. However, Hernandez Jr. isn’t out of the woods just yet. In an article by Thoroughbred Daily News from September 22, the jockey himself updated about his condition. “They did a little small surgery on my liver last night, but we still have the seven broken ribs. They’re going to do a surgery on the ribs [Tuesday] and, hopefully, that will be something that will get me going in the right direction,” Hernandez Jr. was quoted as saying.
He further noted that the doctors treating his injuries have suggested that the jockey might be out of action for six to eight weeks. However, being a member of the thrilling sport community, Hernandez Jr. justifiably hopes for a different scenario once he goes under the knife tomorrow. “The doctors are saying between six and eight weeks. We’ll know more here in the next few days after we do the surgery on the ribs. That’s when we’ll have a whole lot better idea of when we can get back,” he could hardly be more subtle about his wishes to hit the racetrack once again.
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However, with his current situation, the future of his regular horses is now in question. Mystik Dan, quite possibly Hernandez Jr.’s most popular equine partner, thanks to their emphatic 2024 Kentucky Derby triumph, is slated to run in the $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes (Grade 2) on September 27. Moreover, Thorpedo Anna, Brian’s Kentucky Oaks winner, has been added to the list for October 5’s $650,000 Spinster Stakes (Grade 1). With the jockey’s movements being restricted within the four walls of the University of Louisville Hospital, these horses, both trained by Kenny McPeek, will have to look elsewhere to secure a partner.
Thankfully, McPeek, being the seasoned trainer that he is, knows that the time calls for more attention to Brian’s health than the races. “No decision’s been made yet on Mystik Dan or Thorpedo Anna. He was going to ride in Grade 1s for me at Keeneland on Oct. 3rd, 4th and 5th…I’m not going to rush to a decision and I’ve got until Saturday morning to decide on a rider for Mystik Dan. We’re more concerned with Brian and hoping that he’s going to be OK,” he said.
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