Rene Douglas hurt badly at Arlington

[Chris46139]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,4775311.story

http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/o...as/gnid-54423/

[BigdaddyQH]

If his racing days are done, we have lost one of the great jockeys who seemed to just fly under the radar. I always appreciated his abilities. When he made a brief west coast appearance, for one season, he did very well.

[Wabash Wonders]

Update on Douglas not good...

http://www.drf.com/news/article/104060.html

[iggs111]

sad news, he is truly a great jockey with his mounts totaling over 102 million dollars, hope things turn around for him

[Mike2220]

not good that horse fell directly on top of him

[Trossi3389]

Rene Douglas, one of most accomplished jockeys in Arlington Park history, underwent seven hours of spinal surgery early Sunday morning at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and, according to his agent Dennis Cooper, a member of the surgical team of specialists said "he might never walk again."

"It doesn't look good," Cooper said. "They won't be a million percent sure until the swelling goes down and that isn't expected to be until about 10 to 14 days. His fifth and sixth vertebrae were compressed, his ribs were broken and there was damage to his neck, but the main damage is to the spinal cord.

"The doctor told me he had feeling and movement in his upper body but not in his legs. They're hoping that the contusions and swelling (affecting his spinal cord) is what is causing the paralysis, but they don't think so. We're hoping for a miracle."

The six-time Arlington jockey champion sustained the injuries at the track on Saturday riding Born to Be in the Grade III Arlington Matron Handicap. Born to Be had just emerged from the stretch turn, boxed in behind the leaders, when she was bumped by Sky Mom on her inside and clipped heels with front-running Boudoir.

Born to Be fell and was knocked unconscious and rolled over onto Douglas.

The 42-year-old rider lay motionless on the track for several minutes before he was taken by ambulance to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

After doctors there examined him, he was placed in an induced coma, flown by helicopter to Chicago and admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Douglas' wife, Natalia, flew to Chicago from Ft. Lauderdale after learning he was seriously injured, and he was awakened from the coma so they could speak late Saturday.

Cooper said surgery began about 2:30 a.m. and continued until 9:30 a.m., with Douglas in critical condition.

Going into Saturday's program, Douglas was tied with E.T. Baird for the lead in the Arlington jockey standings.

Born to Be was euthanized, a track spokesman said Sunday.

[PGAman]

trying to find a replay of the race. I found one on youtube through their site but is out of the picture a bit. Looked like a horrible fall.