Cedillo Recovered, Returning to Racing Sept. 4

Mauro Cedillo, the apprentice jockey who recovered from a terrifying fall May 1 at Thistledown, will return to riding Sept. 4 at the Cleveland racetrack.

The 25-year-old native of Guatemala will have four mounts at Thistledown, where he has been galloping and exercising horses for the past two months.

"I'm feeling good. I'm ready; I'm excited," Cedillo told BloodHorse Aug. 28.

Miraculously a hairline fracture in his shoulder was the only injury Cedillo suffered after his mount Spectacular Road  stumbled and dashed the rider to the ground. The impact of his fall triggered a cardiac arrest event but resulted in no permanent damage.

Cedillo said he recovered at the home of his uncle and trainer Jacinto Lopez and went to physical therapy to build back the strength in his shoulder. When he got the chance to return to galloping and working horses in the morning, he used that time to get his balance back.

"I'm better and I'm stronger," he said. "God has given me another opportunity, and there are so many people to thank who helped me."

Luis Quinones, Cedillo's agent, said he thought it was a miracle the young rider recovered so well. After the accident, he was taken to Cleveland's Metro Health Medical Center where he was put on a ventilator and monitored for several days.

"He hit the ground so hard and yet the doctors all they found ultimately was the hairline fracture in his shoulder," Quinones said. "Now he's healthy and doing great."

Cedillo returns to competition in race 1 on Nebulosa , race 2 with Show Sliding Home , and race 7 on Surrounder , all for trainer Gary Johnson. He also will be riding Angie's Dear One, who will be making her racing debut in race 4 for Cedillo's uncle.

Cedillo began riding in the United States at the end of 2021. Last year, he won 70 races from 509 mounts and banked $1,349,329. Cedillo is a cousin of Santa Anita Park jockey Abel Cedillo, who fractured a bone in his neck July 23 after being thrown during the fourth race at Del Mar. Abel Cedillo will reportedly not need surgery and will require four to six weeks of physical therapy to recover.

Quinones has been Cedillo's agent since the fall meet at Mahoning Valley Racecourse where the young rider captured the leading jockey title with 33 wins.