Alvarado escapes serious injury in Belmont Park spill

Jockey Junior Alvarado has been released from the hospital with no serious injuries following a scary spill Friday afternoon at Belmont Park, but will miss one to two weeks as he awaits clearance to return to riding, said Alvarado's agent Mike Sellitto on Saturday.

 

Alvarado was unseated leaving the far turn aboard Sword Dancer in Race 6, a six-furlong sprint on the inner turf, when the 32-year-old Venezuela native was struck in the face by a clod of turf, causing him to lose his balance and land directly in front of a trailing horse.

 

Alvarado was dazed immediately following the fall, Sellitto said, but was moving all extremities and engaging with medical personnel. He was taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, where he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in a lumbar vertebra. Alvarado was released late Friday evening and will see a neurologist Monday or Tuesday.

 

"He's got a minute hairline fracture in a lumbar, but he can ride with that. That'll heal on its own in about two weeks, the surgeon said, so that's a nonissue," said Sellitto. "He just has to get cleared by the neurologist. They've got a new kind of testing for concussions, kind of like what they do with football players. It's a good thing for them in the long run, but I'm anticipating him being off at least a week. That's my educated guess.

 

"He walked out of the hospital feeling fine last night and then he wanted to work a horse this morning. I told him, 'you're crazy, you can't do that.'"

 

Alvarado has three wins in the current meet, including a pair of victories on Friday's card before the spill. He was named on seven Saturday at Belmont, including Realm in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap.