Lopez Returns to Riding at Golden Gate Fields
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Apprentice jockey David Lopez, out since June 6 with a back injury, will return to competition Oct. 22, opening day for Golden Gate Fields' 32-day fall meet.
Lopez, who will turn 26 on Oct. 24, finished fourth in the 2014-15 Golden Gate winter/spring meet jockey standings with 70 wins, despite arriving in the Bay Area more than a month after the meet started. He fractured four transverse processes in a spill during the meet's penultimate week of racing.
"It probably was the worst pain I've ever gone through," Lopez said. "I couldn't sleep. I couldn't lie on my stomach, and I sleep on my stomach every night, so sleeping on my back was impossible."
Lopez—who also has ridden at Monmouth Park, Indiana Grand Race Course, and Turf Paradise—said it was difficult for him to sit out the fair meets and Golden Gate's summer meet as he recuperated.
"I didn't do much except watch races and go to rehab twice week," Lopez said. "I was bored—just terribly bored—watching everybody ride while I was sitting at home."
Lopez said he resumed exercising horses about three weeks ago.
"I just want to ride again and ride in every race," Lopez said. "I never had it taken away from me before. I won't take it for granted again."
David Lopez is the son of C.C. Lopez, a veteran jockey who has won 4,136 races in his career, including the Oak Tree Handicap at Pleasanton in July during a 2 1/2-month riding stint in Northern California.
Golden Gate will present seven races on opening day, with David Lopez set to ride in four races.
Racing will be conducted at Golden Gate on a Thursday through Sunday schedule until Dec. 13. Post time will be 12:45 p.m PT. every race day with three exceptions: 12:05 p.m. Oct. 30 (first day of Breeders' Cup), 11:40 a.m. Oct. 31 (second day of Breeders' Cup), and 11:15 a.m. Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving).
The fall meet will include seven stakes races, topped by the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the main track Nov. 29.