Michael Martinez, Golden Gate
 

Wow this is not sounding good at all.

http://www.drf.com/news/golden-gate-...on-after-spill

I know someone will ask so here's a link... horse seems to be okay.

http://www.goldengatefields.com/NR/e...BC9CF1CA6D.htm

I just heard about this and I'm really sad. He's a great guy and one of the best jockeys here in northern California. Please pray for him folks, he needs all the help he can get.

damn pinheads...........as Lukas noted they are well compensated for the chances they take.

this better be a joke

and even if it is a joke its a terrible one. I seriously suggest you find a soul.

He was being facetious. He's a jockey groupie.

I am more concerned for the horse....need those full fields.

I'm laughing hysterically.

The comment was a poke at Lukas and how absurd his comments are.

I have friends that ride, one of them flew up to see this kid, its a very dangerous game, more so than the 50k a year some of these guys ride for.

Martinez 'very critical' after Golden Gate fall

By Nicholas Godfrey 8:14PM 13 SEP 2010
USA: Jockey Michael Martinez, second in the Golden Gate Fields standings this summer, is in "very critical" condition after severing his spinal cord in a fall on Sunday.

According to the Daily Racing Form, 24-year-old Martinez underwent nearly 11 hours of emergency surgery at an Oakland hospital after the incident.

Martinez is also suffering from bleeding in his head and into his lungs, said track physician David Seftel.

The jockey, 13th in the national standings with 168 winners, was unseated in a 5f claimer when the favourite Fair 'n Warmer clipped heels.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...767086/latest/

If you have friends that ride then you know how serious this is and you understand that poking fun at a trainers comments or even "gallows humor" is not the most appropriate thing to post on this particular thread. Best wishes and prayers is probably a better thing to post.

My thoughts are with this young man and his family, as I'm sure yours are, too.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...1-hour-surgery


At least a little bit better news this evening.

I didn't know Alex Solis is his cousin.

I'm sure a fund will be set up to help the family with medical bills, etc., but in the meantime if anyone is so inclined...

http://www.pdjf.org/

Good to hear he's better after the surgery.

I heard from a friend that he is day to day right now, still critical but there is always hope. Just really hoping he can live to know his child.

Here's an update on Michael from the local paper:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...SPN41FDBRU.DTL

:tro:

Got a text from a track friend that Michael is breathing on his own and is able to talk. They're trying to keep him calm and rested but "he wants to go home". Unless there are major complications, he will survive this. They are talking about trying stem cell therapy to repair the spinal column, but that's still a ways off.

My continued thoughts are with Michael and his family...

That's great news, thanks for posting DC.

Gooey and Girl-Cat-Do are doing very pretty work here.



( This should get me boo-bee photos....but anyhoo--they are.)