Jones Injured in Galloping Accident at Ellis Park

Few people are as quickly identified on the racetrack as Larry Jones, who has long been easily spotted at work putting his 63-year-old, 180-pound body through the challenges of galloping horses—a task largely done by individuals half his age and a fraction of his size.

Now his riding days are apparently over, according to the trainer. On July 17 while galloping a 2-year-old at Ellis Park, Jones was unseated when his mount stumbled and fell, resulting in the trainer breaking nine ribs, a vertebra, and his collarbone. The horse was uninjured.

"For many years I kept making circles around the track, and I never could find the end of it," he said by telephone while recovering at home July 22. "But I think I have found the end of it—it's about at the 3 1/2-furlong pole at Ellis Park. I think that's the end of the track."

Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee first reported Jones' injuries.

Jones is expected to make a full recovery without the need for casts or a back brace, but he doesn't feel on the mend just yet. He could not muster the strength to observe training Wednesday morning, feeling too much discomfort, and instead spent the day remaining immobile inside his Henderson, Ky., home.

July 23 might bring added motivation. The top older mare he trains, 2019 Cotillion Stakes (G1) winner Street Band, is scheduled to breeze. She is working toward a start in the Aug. 9 Groupie Doll Stakes over a mile at Ellis Park, where Jones also intends to run Istan Council.

The injury is one of several for the longtime horseman, who began training in 1982. In 2014—three years after he campaigned Havre de Grace for a Horse of the Year title—he suffered two fractured ribs, a bruised lung, and a frightening head injury after being thrown from a horse during training at Delaware Park.

After recovering, Jones was drawn back into the saddle, eventually returning to gallop inexperienced 2-year-olds. In 2015, Lovely Maria gave him his third victory in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, following Proud Spell in 2008 and Believe You Can in 2012. 

Jones, a native of Hopkinsville, finished second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with Hard Spun  in 2007 and Eight Belles in 2008. Eight Belles tragically broke down after the finish.

Following last week's injury, Jones has no motivation to return to riding, only leaving the door open to be atop his pony to assist and monitor his horses' morning training.

"Every time you get hurt, you always think, 'When can I get back on?'" he said. "But this is the first time I know that this is over. I know I'm done."