Funny Cide jockey Santos retires from racing

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Hall of Fame-bound jockey Jose Santos, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Funny Cide, retired from racing Monday -- six months after a serious spill during a race at Aqueduct.


The popular 46-year-old Santos broke his back in a three-horse spill Feb. 1. He had hoped to ride again, but doctors advised against it.
"This has been very hard for me, because I really wanted to go out on my own terms," Santos said in a news release. "That didn't happen. I decided that I wanted to make this announcement today because I didn't want to take anything away from the Hall of Fame ceremonies."
Santos will be inducted into racing's Hall of Fame on Aug. 6, along with seven others, including former trainer John Veitch, and Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm. His retirement comes 17 days after 7-year-old Funny Cide was retired. He now serves as stable pony for trainer Barclay Tagg.
"It's only right that we go out together," Santos said. "I just hope I find a job as good as his."
Santos, from Concepcion, Chile, was among the nation's leading jockeys in the 1980s, and leaves the sport with more than 4,000 victories. But he will be remembered for his run at the Triple Crown aboard Funny Cide.
The New York-bred gelding was the surprise winner in the Derby, then demolished the field in the Preakness by 9} lengths. On a rainy day at Belmont Park, nearly 102,000 fans showed up for the Triple Crown attempt, but Funny Cide finished third.
Santos was dogged by controversy after the Derby, when a published photograph prompted Churchill Downs officials to investigate whether the jockey carried something other than a whip in his right hand during the race. After being cleared of wrongdoing, Santos said: "I am thankful this nightmare is over. A week ago, I was in the happiest moment of my life. And then this photograph came in and destroyed my career, actually."
Santos also won the 1999 Belmont aboard Lemon Drop Kid. He was the nation's leading rider four years running during the 1980s and won an Eclipse Award in 1988.
Through the end of 2006, Santos had 4,076 victories in North America with purse earnings of $186.9 million and 331 graded stakes wins.
"I am extremely grateful for the career I've had, for the owners and trainers that had faith in me, to my fellow jockeys who helped bring out the best in me and to the fans for their support," Santos said. "Most of all, I am grateful to my family. They have always supported me, and it is tough because every time you ride a horse, you are in danger. They don't have to worry anymore, and that is a relief."
Santos' injuries were serious. His spine was fractured in five places and he broke several ribs.
"Three of them were compression fractures of the [thoracic] vertebrae," he said. "The other two the T-7 and T-8 -- were more serious fractures. My doctor [Dr. Thomas Muria] said that the way they were pressing against the spinal cord, there would be an 80-percent chance that I could wind up in a wheelchair."
Santos rode his first race at Hipico Racecourse in Chile, following in the footsteps of his father and three of his seven brothers. In 1984, he began riding at South Florida racetracks and moved to New York a year later.
In 1992, Santos had his first serious injury, fracturing his right arm and collarbone and cracking his hip in a spill at Belmont Park. He had 14 screws and two pins inserted to repair the arm.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press