Haskell Stakes (G1) winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contender Geaux Rocket Ride suffered an injury during a work Oct. 28 at Santa Anita Park.
With regular rider Mike Smith up, Geaux Rocket Ride appeared to stumble in midstretch and was pulled up. The Hall of Fame jockey dismounted and held Geaux Rocket Ride’s right front leg until trainer Richard Mandella, veterinarians, and other officials arrived. Geaux Rocket Ride walked onto the horse ambulance.
Trainer Richard Mandella, reached midafternoon Saturday, said, “He sustained a serious condylar fracture, and they are going to operate late morning tomorrow.”
Jockey Mike Smith, left, and trainer Richard Mandella after Geaux Rocket Ride was pulled up training at Santa Anita Park
Mandella added: “He was doing great for us. We had such high hopes for him.”
Breeders’ Cup Ltd. issued the following statement shortly after the incident:
Geaux Rocket Ride sustained an open condylar fracture with intersesmoidian ligament damage to his right front leg during a workout this morning under Mike Smith, who was uninjured, dismounted, and tended to the horse. Geaux Rocket Ride was taken via equine ambulance to the Southern California Equine Foundation (SCEF) equine hospital at Santa Anita Park and has since been transferred to his barn to undergo additional evaluation and diagnostics to determine the appropriate course of action. Our thoughts, along with those of the entire racing community, are with trainer Richard Mandella, the Pin Oak Stud LLC team, and all those who care for him during this difficult time.
Leading up to the World Championships, the Breeders’ Cup has been working closely with Santa Anita Park, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), and our veterinary team to ensure every Breeders’ Cup runner is fit to race. The Breeders’ Cup Veterinary Team also coordinated with regulatory and track veterinarians across the country to thoroughly review the veterinary records associated with all potential Breeders’ Cup runners starting in early October. This expanded veterinary review protocol is designed to ensure, to the extent possible, every horse that made the trip to Santa Anita Park for the World Championships was sound to race and train. We have faith in these processes, which include expanded veterinary exam protocols, increased testing, 24-hour equine surveillance starting Tuesday, Oct. 31 for domestic runners and Sunday, Oct. 29 for international runners, and enhanced reporting requirements.
Safety always comes first, which is why Breeders’ Cup and industry leaders like the CHRB and 1/ST Racing have been longtime advocates for the uniform safety and integrity reforms that eventually became part of HISA. We are constantly evaluating and updating our safety and screening measures so we can continue to provide the safest possible racing environment.
