For the second time this year, Tampa Bay Downs jockey Pablo Morales has been sidelined due to a freak injury.
The rider was preparing to work a horse Nov. 26 when the horse reared and then stumbled, launching him forward as he clung to the reins. When the horse landed, Morales twisted his left wrist hard on the back of the horse’s neck, resulting in the fractured left wrist.
But after fearing he could miss as many as eight weeks of action, the 35-year-old rider received good news Nov. 28 from Tampa orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Creighton.
“I went there not too hopeful because I had a lot of swelling, and it was hurting a lot,” Morales said. “But (Creighton) said the fracture is small, and the pain is probably from tendon and ligament damage, and that it probably won’t be too long” before he can return to action.
The rider has been fitted with a removable cast he needs to wear until his next visit to Creighton in a couple of weeks. Morales does not want to put a timetable on his return, but an optimistic forecast is that he could return late next month.
He had won with three of his 11 mounts during the opening week of the Tampa meet after topping the standings at Presque Isle Downs.
This spring, Morales missed nearly two months of riding after his right hand was bitten by an opposing horse March 19 in the starting gate at Tampa Bay Downs.
