2 jockeys fall off mounts in race at Belmont Park
June 7, 2012NEW YORK (AP) - Jockeys Rosie Napravnik and Irad Ortiz Jr. were thrown from their mounts in the seventh race at Belmont Park on Thursday.
Napravnik fell off Indigene Charm shortly after leaving the starting gate in the $31,000 race on the inner turf course. She got up and walked off, and wasn't seriously hurt. Napravnik will ride Five Sixteen on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes.
Ortiz Jr. was aboard Logical Order along the rail at the top of the stretch in the 1 1/16-mile race when he appeared to get bumped by Tycoon Cat, who was ridden by his brother Jose. Irad Ortiz Jr. went down and lay on the turf until emergency personnel could reach him. He was taken away by ambulance.
A track spokesperson said Ortiz Jr. was conscious when he was hospitalized after complaining of neck and back pain.