TurfPublicists: GARCIA ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURY IN SATURDAY SPILL AT AQUEDUCT; ALVARADO STABLE, AWAITING TEST RESULTS

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Contact: Ashley Herriman

GARCIA ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURY IN SATURDAY SPILL AT AQUEDUCT; ALVARADO STABLE, AWAITING TEST RESULTS

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Alan Garcia was released from North Shore University Hospital Saturday afternoon after tests came back negative following a spill in the fourth race at Aqueduct Racetrack. Pending final clearance from NYRA First Aid, he is likely to ride Sunday as scheduled.

Junior Alvarado, also involved in the spill, was in stable condition at North Shore on Saturday evening awaiting results of a CT scan of his abdomen.

In the race, a $7,500 claiming event, Garcia’s mount, Scorper, fractured his left front ankle and fell approaching the three-eighths pole, unseating the rider. Alvarado was unseated when his mount, Hardshell, stumbled over the fallen horse. Scorper, a 6-year-old gelding, was euthanized as a result of his injuries. Hardshell, a 4-year-old gelding, continued running before being apprehended by an outrider and did not appear to be injured.

Both riders were stable and conscious after the incident, with Garcia complaining of left flank and shoulder pain and Alvarado complaining of abdominal pain.

Garcia, a 26-year-old Peruvian rider, has 17 winners since the start of the inner track meet on November 30 and is seventh in the jockey standings. The Venezuelan-born Alvarado, 26, is currently third in the standings with 33 winners during the meet.

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