Jockey Rene Douglas paralyzed after spill at Arlington yesterday
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from Bloodhorse:
Jockey Rene Douglas came out of a seven-hour surgery at Northwestern Hospital on May 24 without feeling in his lower extremities, and doctors there said the 42-year-old rider may not walk again, agent Dennis Cooper reported on May 24.
Douglas, who entered surgery around 2:30 a.m. (CST) and came out around 9:30 a.m., was injured in a racing accident at Arlington Park in the May 23 Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III).
They said he might not walk again, it didnt look like, Cooper said. Hell probably have use of his upper body, but they gave it to me straight that hes not likely to walk. They wont be a million percent sure until after the swelling goes down in about 10 to 14 days, but it doesnt look good.
Douglas will remain in the intensive care unit of Northwestern for two weeks, until he moves to rehab.
Its devastating, Cooper said.
Douglas was worked on by a team of specialists who made efforts to repair compressed vertebrae and damage to the riders neck. But the main concerns centered on Douglas spinal cord, which may have been damaged by a fragment of splintered bone, Cooper said.
Cooper said Douglas was alert and able to speak with his wife before he was moved to surgery. Doctors had him transferred via helicopter from Northwest Hospital near Arlington to Northwestern before they began the procedure. He had initially lost feeling in his lower extremities after the accident, but was reported to have regained some feeling in his legs while still at the first hospital. He was also complaining of pain in his arms and back.
Douglas was thrown from his mount in the Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) when the 4-year-old Born to Be was bumped by Sky Mom, clipped heels with Boudoir, and fell in upper stretch. Born to Be flipped and tossed Douglas over her head, then landed on top of the prone rider. Track workers had to drag the daughter of A.P. Indy off of Douglas before he could be transferred to a backboard. He was removed from the track via ambulance, as was his mount.
Cooper said he had been told that the horse, trained by Eric Coatreiux, had recovered from the incident. A spokesperson for Arlington Park said the filly returned to the barn and had not been euthanized on the day of the accident.
She went straight down head over heels just like in slow motion, Cooper said. She hit him with her whole body, dropped there on top of him and just laid there.
The filly remained on the track for several moments before being transferred to the equine ambulance. Sky Mom, who finished fifth, was disqualified for interfering with Born to Be and was placed last.
The Panamanian Douglas has been the leading rider at Arlington six times (2001-2004 and 2007-2008) and holds the record for most consecutive titles at the Chicago track with four (2001-2004). This season, he was tied with E.T. Baird in the early contest for leading rider honors at the track with 15 wins going into the May 23 card. He has won more than 3,000 races.
Jockey Rene Douglas came out of a seven-hour surgery at Northwestern Hospital on May 24 without feeling in his lower extremities, and doctors there said the 42-year-old rider may not walk again, agent Dennis Cooper reported on May 24.
Douglas, who entered surgery around 2:30 a.m. (CST) and came out around 9:30 a.m., was injured in a racing accident at Arlington Park in the May 23 Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III).
They said he might not walk again, it didnt look like, Cooper said. Hell probably have use of his upper body, but they gave it to me straight that hes not likely to walk. They wont be a million percent sure until after the swelling goes down in about 10 to 14 days, but it doesnt look good.
Douglas will remain in the intensive care unit of Northwestern for two weeks, until he moves to rehab.
Its devastating, Cooper said.
Douglas was worked on by a team of specialists who made efforts to repair compressed vertebrae and damage to the riders neck. But the main concerns centered on Douglas spinal cord, which may have been damaged by a fragment of splintered bone, Cooper said.
Cooper said Douglas was alert and able to speak with his wife before he was moved to surgery. Doctors had him transferred via helicopter from Northwest Hospital near Arlington to Northwestern before they began the procedure. He had initially lost feeling in his lower extremities after the accident, but was reported to have regained some feeling in his legs while still at the first hospital. He was also complaining of pain in his arms and back.
Douglas was thrown from his mount in the Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) when the 4-year-old Born to Be was bumped by Sky Mom, clipped heels with Boudoir, and fell in upper stretch. Born to Be flipped and tossed Douglas over her head, then landed on top of the prone rider. Track workers had to drag the daughter of A.P. Indy off of Douglas before he could be transferred to a backboard. He was removed from the track via ambulance, as was his mount.
Cooper said he had been told that the horse, trained by Eric Coatreiux, had recovered from the incident. A spokesperson for Arlington Park said the filly returned to the barn and had not been euthanized on the day of the accident.
She went straight down head over heels just like in slow motion, Cooper said. She hit him with her whole body, dropped there on top of him and just laid there.
The filly remained on the track for several moments before being transferred to the equine ambulance. Sky Mom, who finished fifth, was disqualified for interfering with Born to Be and was placed last.
The Panamanian Douglas has been the leading rider at Arlington six times (2001-2004 and 2007-2008) and holds the record for most consecutive titles at the Chicago track with four (2001-2004). This season, he was tied with E.T. Baird in the early contest for leading rider honors at the track with 15 wins going into the May 23 card. He has won more than 3,000 races.
Comments
on the line every time. ex- quarter horse jockey john creager once told me " son i have had both legs
and arms broke three times, when you see me ride, i'am trying to win, my life is on the line everyday"
i just hope that in the next 14 days, the results come out as positive as they can....