Forwarding: Jockey John Velazquez continues to heal

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT: Jockeys’ Guild (859) 523-JOCK (523-5625)

 

John Velazquez continuing to heal, expects to begin exercising horses next week

 

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (July 9, 2012) – Jockeys’ Guild Chairman John Velazquez announced today that he is continuing to heal from a spill last month and expects to begin exercising horses in about a week.

 

Velazquez suffered a broken collarbone and trauma to his kidney on June 16 after the horse he was riding in the ninth race at Churchill Downs broke down. He was initially hospitalized at Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville. He has since been under the care of Dr. Stephen O’Brien at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

 

“I saw Dr. O’Brien today, and he said I was healing very well,” Velazquez said. O’Brien cleared Velazquez to start exercising horses next Monday at Saratoga.

 

“After that, I will just have to play it by ear,” Velazquez said. “Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before I can race again, but I want to make sure I’m strong enough to compete before I get back to riding.”

 

About the Guild

 

Jockeys’ Guild, Inc., the organization representing professional jockeys in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the United States, was founded in May 1940 and has approximately 950 members, including active, retired and disabled jockeys. The purpose is to protect jockeys, strive to achieve a safer racing environment, to obtain improved insurance and other benefits for members and to monitor developments in local, state and federal laws affecting the racing industry, and in particular, the jockeys. More information at www.jockeysguild.com and www.facebook.com/jockeysguild.

 

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Cary B. Willis

Senior Account Manager

New West

Phone: 502.891.2550

Cell: 502.905.5860

Web site: www.newwestagency.com