D’Amico injured in spill
Jockey Tony D’Amico is recovering at a Louisville, Kentucky,
hospital after being thrown and injured in Wednesday’s 10TH race
at Churchill Downs. The 49-year-old rider suffered a fractured left collarbone, four fractured ribs and a punctured lung.
Riding first-time starter Deep Woods (Forest Wildcat), D’Amico
was thrown to the track when his mount suddenly swerved inward
toward the rail at the top of the stretch in the six-furlong race.
He landed in the path of the oncoming Sally Forth (Parade Ground),
who apparently struck D’Amico as she attempted to hurdle the
fallen rider.
D’Amico’s wife, Mindy, expects him to return to the saddle.
“He loves to ride,” she said. “He’s up in his
hospital room right now, watching the races and he’s mad that he
can’t be out there. For Tony it’s never a question of will I go
back, but how soon?”
A 30-year veteran rider, D’Amico has been sent to the
sidelines several times in his career. The native of Ravenna,
Ohio, suffered a broken neck in a 1989 spill and was treated for
neck and spine injuries following another mishap in 1989.
The horses involved in Wednesday’s accident were not injured.