Sunday May 24, 2009
Rene Douglas paralyzed after Arlington spill
Born to Be did not sufficiently recover from her injuries and was later euthanized.
"It's devastating," said Dennis Cooper, Douglas's agent. "He'll probably have use of his upper body, but they gave it to me straight that he's not likely to walk. They won't be a million percent sure until after the swelling goes down in about 10 to 14 days, but it doesn't look good.
Cooper said Douglas was alert and spoke to his wife just prior to his surgery. Efforts were made to repair compressed vertebrae and damage to the rider's neck, but the main concern was centered on Douglas's spinal cord, which may have been damaged by a fragment of splintered bone.
A native of Panama, Douglas came to the United States in 1983. A winner of more than 3,000 races in North America, Douglas gained national attention when guiding Caltech to an upset victory in the 1989 Washington D.C. International (G1). His most important victory occurred in the 1996 Belmont S. (G1) when he rode Editor's Note in the 1 1/2-mile classic for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Douglas has ridden regularly on nearly every major circuit, but had done especially well at Arlington Park over the past decade. He has won six riding titles at the suburban Chicago track, including four in a row from 2001-04. He was also leading rider in 2007-08.
Rene Douglas paralyzed after Arlington spill
Jockey Rene Douglas emerged from seven-hour surgery at Northwestern Hospital in Illinois on Sunday without feeling in his lower extremities, and doctors fear the 42-year-old reinsman may not walk again, according to a Blood-Horse report.
Douglas, who entered surgery at 2:30 a.m. (CDT), was seriously injured during Saturday's Arlington Matron H. (G3) when his mount, Born to Be, clipped heels with a rival and fell, ultimately landing on Douglas. Track workers had to drag the filly off Douglas before he could be taken off the track and to a nearby hospital. Douglas was eventually airlifted to Northwestern, where he will remain in the intensive care unit for two weeks until he moves to rehabilitation.
Born to Be did not sufficiently recover from her injuries and was later euthanized.
"It's devastating," said Dennis Cooper, Douglas's agent. "He'll probably have use of his upper body, but they gave it to me straight that he's not likely to walk. They won't be a million percent sure until after the swelling goes down in about 10 to 14 days, but it doesn't look good.
Cooper said Douglas was alert and spoke to his wife just prior to his surgery. Efforts were made to repair compressed vertebrae and damage to the rider's neck, but the main concern was centered on Douglas's spinal cord, which may have been damaged by a fragment of splintered bone.
A native of Panama, Douglas came to the United States in 1983. A winner of more than 3,000 races in North America, Douglas gained national attention when guiding Caltech to an upset victory in the 1989 Washington D.C. International (G1). His most important victory occurred in the 1996 Belmont S. (G1) when he rode Editor's Note in the 1 1/2-mile classic for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Douglas has ridden regularly on nearly every major circuit, but had done especially well at Arlington Park over the past decade. He has won six riding titles at the suburban Chicago track, including four in a row from 2001-04. He was also leading rider in 2007-08.
