Tampa Riders Taken to Hospital After Spill
Description:
A four-horse spill in the sixth race Feb. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs caused the death of one horse and resulted in four jockeys being taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for observation.
The chain-reaction accident in the $8,000 claiming race began when 5-year-old mare La Ranchera, who was advancing along the rail under jockey Alice Cartwright, broke down at the quarter pole. Juliebrowneyes tumbled over La Ranchera and threw her jockey, Huber Villa-Gomez, to the track.
The 4-year-old filly Carol Ann and leading Tampa Bay jockey Antonio Gallardo were unable to avoid Juliebrowneyes, although Carol Ann managed to jog away after losing Gallardo. But a fourth horse, Bright Promise sideswiped La Ranchera as the latter was struggling to regain her footing. Bright Promise's jockey, Janelle Campbell, was tossed off in the process.
All four jockeys were reported to be conscious and able to move their limbs as they were taken to the hospital. Villa-Gomez and Gallardo were reported to be in good condition. Cartwright and Campbell were being treated and awaiting results of their X-rays.
La Ranchera died after the collision with Bright Promise, who was vanned off and returned to her barn for evaluation. The 7-year-old mare Juliebrowneyes and Carol Ann appeared to emerge from the accident satisfactorily.