Kendrick Carmouche Out With Fractured Femur

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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Kendrick Carmouche at Saratoga Race Course in 2015

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who went down in a spill when his mount clipped heels in the Sept. 8 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes, will be out four to six months with a fractured right femur that was more severe than initially thought.

Carmouche underwent surgery for more than four hours late Sunday afternoon at Nashville's TriStar Skyline Medical Center, according to Mindy Coleman, the Jockeys' Guild attorney who was at Kentucky Downs Saturday and spent Saturday evening and Sunday at the hospital.

Coleman said there was initial discussion about moving Carmouche to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the surgery, but after getting a second opinion, the decision was made to leave the rider at Skyline. Orthopedic surgeon Phil Kregor, an internationally recognized expert in complex fracture care, performed the surgery, she said.

Coleman said more evaluation was to be performed before it could be determined when Carmouche might be able to return to his home in Delaware. His wife, Whitney, flew to Nashville after the accident. The attorney said the Carmouches want to express how much they "appreciate all the love and support our racetrack family has shown."

Riding second choice Chattel, Carmouche was among the leaders in midstretch of Saturday's Juvenile Turf Sprint when Sovereign Impact, ridden by Adam Beschizza, ducked out in his path, forcing Chattel to clip heels. Chattel sustained a fractured shoulder in the fall and had to be euthanized.