Espinoza back in saddle after broken neck
– After seven months on the side lines, US Hall Of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza returns to the saddle today at Santa Anita, aboard the filly Gallantlystreaming.
Espinoza suffered fractured vertebra in his neck when he fell while riding work at Del Mar in July and the road to recovery has been long and arduous for the 46-year-old.
“At first I thought I was done, I really did,” said Espinoza, who initially lacked feeling in his left arm and required 24-hour assistance with life’s basics, such walking and getting in and out of bed.
“At that point I was thinking: ‘This is it. What am I going to do with my life?’
“But about three months ago, it kind of happened overnight. I started feeling better, and I felt like I could make it back. Now I’m ready to do my job.”
Espinoza, who has ridden three
Los Angeles
Kentucky Derby winners – War Emblem (2002), California Chrome (2014), and American Pharoah (2015) – said he and his agent, Brian Beach, are making themselves available to horsemen in the mornings at Santa Anita.
“We want to work as many horses as we can and build our business up,” Espinoza said.
“It’s always tough here, and you have to work hard and show people you are 100% to get their confidence.” –
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