3-year-old Irish Nuggets is dead after breaking down in the 8th Wednesday at Indiana Grand. In reporting on this, the Daily Racing Form is being true to form: First, that there is any coverage at all can be entirely explained by the fact that this was a stakes race – dead claimers don’t rate; second, said coverage, such as it is, is squarely focused on the condition of the fallen jockey, who, as it turns out, is just fine.
It reads:
“Chicago-based journeyman rider Julio Felix escaped serious injury when his mount, IRISH NUGGETS, broke down on the turn of the eighth race, the Merrillville Stakes for Indiana-breds, on Wednesday at Indiana Grand. Irish Nuggets…was stalking the pace…when the filly went bad, began to pull up lame, and threw Felix to the track. Trailing horses whizzed past, but Felix was able to walk away from the spill, and Indiana Grand stewards reported he was examined and cleared by on-track medical personnel.”
Thank heavens. The horse?
“Irish Nuggets…suffered catastrophic injuries and had to be euthanized on the track, according to the stewards.”
This is horseracing.
Exactly Patrick! “The horse?”