Top rider Vinnie Bednar paralyzed

Jockey Vinnie Bednar sustained lower-limb paralysis in a one-horse spill at Los Alamitos on Aug. 22, his father, Scott Bednar, said on Tuesday, and will be moved to a hospital in Colorado for treatment.

“The injuries are significant,” Scott Bednar said. “He lacks movement in his lower extremities. We’re hoping for the best in the long-term prognosis.”

Vinnie Bednar underwent surgery on his spinal cord at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 23, a day after he was unseated from Peek It Up in a 300-yard race when the filly suffered a fatal injury toward the end of the race.

Scott Bednar said his 28-year-old son will be transported to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., which specializes in spinal cord injuries. Hall of Fame Thoroughbred jockey Bill Shoemaker was treated at Craig Hospital after suffering paralysis in a 1991 car accident.

Vinnie Bednar was second in the Quarter Horse standings at Los Alamitos with 42 wins and was in the midst of an outstanding summer at the time of the accident. Bednar won the Vessels Maturity on Chocolatito on July 5, the Governor’s Cup Derby with Nomadic on July 26, and the Golden State Derby on Aug. 16 aboard Circle City.

Last December, Bednar won the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on He Looks Hot, who was later named the 2019 Quarter Horse World Champion. Bednar rode first call for Los Alamitos track owner Ed Allred the last two years. One of their early wins together was with He Looks Hot in the Los Alamitos Championship in October 2018.

Bednar had his best season in 2019, winning 115 races on all breeds. His mounts earned a personal-best $1,900,785.

A native of Southern California, Bednar began his career riding Thoroughbreds at Turf Paradise in late 2011 and rode at Santa Anita and

Hollywood Park the following year. He relocated to Los Alamitos at the end of 2012 and primarily rode Thoroughbreds at the track’s night meeting before becoming more active with Quarter Horses in recent years.

Scott Bednar said he has tried to lift his son’s spirits in the aftermath of the injury.

“Vincent is a good kid,” Scott Bednar said. “He’s torn up about it.

“It’s tough for all of us.” A GoFundMe page has been launched to help defray costs – https://www.gofundme. com/f/love-and-support-forjockey-vinnie-bednar.