Jockey Juan Saez dies after fall during race in Indiana, A young jockey died from injuries he sustained during a race at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino Tuesday night, said Marion County's Chief Deputy Coroner Alfarena Ballew.
Juan Saez, a 17-year-old apprentice rider from Panama City, Panama, was competing in the eighth race of the night when his 4-year-old horse, Montezuma Express, allegedly clipped the heels of the horse in front of him, according to a review of the incident by track officials. Saez was thrown from Montezuma Express as the horse fell, which also caused a trailing horse and its rider to fall.
Seals Ambulance, a private ambulance transport service that was operating at the track, initially responded to the call, said Shelbyville Fire Department officials.
Saez's agent, Julio Espinoza, told the Daily Racing Form that the rider had to be revived "about three or four times" at the track, and that he had suffered severe head trauma.
SFD met the Seals' ambulance at a nearby heliport where fire department officials said they saw Saez in the helicopter. He was airlifted to IU Health Methodist Hospital where he was being treated in the level one trauma center, said a hospital spokesman.
In a release issued by the casino Tuesday night, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission's Board of Stewards is continuing to review the events leading up to Saez's injury. Montezuma Express, as well as another horse, Platitude, involved in a separate incident at the track, have been euthanized. No other riders were taken to the hospital.
Jack Brothers, a partner at Hidden Brook, the farm that raised 2008's Kentucky Derby Winner, Big Brown, told The Indianapolis Star most apprentices, like Saez, begin racing at 16 and 17 years old, so the age of the jockey didn't surprise him.
Saez wound up on Montezuma Express because original rider Jeremy Rose didn't show up and his first replacement, Malcolm Franklin, took off the late races because he was sick.
Montezuma Express, who sustained cuts but otherwise seemed fine was back at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning. (Indiana Grand in its first press advisory said Montezuma Express was euthanized.)
"He was a good kid and he was going to be a great rider," Rick Hiles, trainer of Montezuma Express, told the Louisville Courier-Journal by phone. "I feel bad because he really wasn't supposed to be on my horse…. Juan comes and visits me at the barn all the time. I just said, 'Hey Juan, how about riding this horse for me?' He said, 'OK, Mr. Hiles.' My horse is as sound as he could be. He had plenty of horse, it's just the horse in front of him backed up in front of his face and the rider on the outside wouldn't let him out
"...When they get in tight light that and you're trying to control those monsters…. I feel so bad. Just one of those freak accidents -- 17-year-old with his life ahead of him."
The mood at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning was of sorrow. Most people asked about Saez mentioned the teenager's brilliant smile and the fact he always seemed happy.
"I don't when, in my career, I've seen somebody come along that I thought had more potential," said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, one of the first trainers to use Saez when he started riding in Kentucky in late June. "He was riding so far beyond his years already: making decisions, patience, everything you don't see in a boy 17 years old. It's absolutely tragic. I really thought he could be the next Shoemaker or Pat Day."
Due to the incidents that occurred in the eighth race, Indiana Grand Casino officials canceled the ninth, and final, race of the evening.
Juan Saez, a 17-year-old apprentice rider from Panama City, Panama, was competing in the eighth race of the night when his 4-year-old horse, Montezuma Express, allegedly clipped the heels of the horse in front of him, according to a review of the incident by track officials. Saez was thrown from Montezuma Express as the horse fell, which also caused a trailing horse and its rider to fall.
Seals Ambulance, a private ambulance transport service that was operating at the track, initially responded to the call, said Shelbyville Fire Department officials.
Saez's agent, Julio Espinoza, told the Daily Racing Form that the rider had to be revived "about three or four times" at the track, and that he had suffered severe head trauma.
SFD met the Seals' ambulance at a nearby heliport where fire department officials said they saw Saez in the helicopter. He was airlifted to IU Health Methodist Hospital where he was being treated in the level one trauma center, said a hospital spokesman.
Jack Brothers, a partner at Hidden Brook, the farm that raised 2008's Kentucky Derby Winner, Big Brown, told The Indianapolis Star most apprentices, like Saez, begin racing at 16 and 17 years old, so the age of the jockey didn't surprise him.
Saez wound up on Montezuma Express because original rider Jeremy Rose didn't show up and his first replacement, Malcolm Franklin, took off the late races because he was sick.
Montezuma Express, who sustained cuts but otherwise seemed fine was back at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning. (Indiana Grand in its first press advisory said Montezuma Express was euthanized.)
"He was a good kid and he was going to be a great rider," Rick Hiles, trainer of Montezuma Express, told the Louisville Courier-Journal by phone. "I feel bad because he really wasn't supposed to be on my horse…. Juan comes and visits me at the barn all the time. I just said, 'Hey Juan, how about riding this horse for me?' He said, 'OK, Mr. Hiles.' My horse is as sound as he could be. He had plenty of horse, it's just the horse in front of him backed up in front of his face and the rider on the outside wouldn't let him out
The mood at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning was of sorrow. Most people asked about Saez mentioned the teenager's brilliant smile and the fact he always seemed happy.
"I don't when, in my career, I've seen somebody come along that I thought had more potential," said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, one of the first trainers to use Saez when he started riding in Kentucky in late June. "He was riding so far beyond his years already: making decisions, patience, everything you don't see in a boy 17 years old. It's absolutely tragic. I really thought he could be the next Shoemaker or Pat Day."
Due to the incidents that occurred in the eighth race, Indiana Grand Casino officials canceled the ninth, and final, race of the evening.
