Castro Escapes Serious Injury in Paddock Mishap

Jockey Eddie Castro escaped serious injury following a paddock incident in which he was kicked by his mount Kamarius prior to the ninth race on Sunday’s Monmouth Park card.

“He suffered a large laceration on his right leg,” said Dr. Angelo Chinnici, Medical Director at the racetrack. “He will be sutured and kept overnight for observation.”

It was originally believed that Castro had suffered a broken distal femur; however, X-rays taken at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J. proved negative.

A 29-year-old native of Los Santos, Panama, Castro was given a leg up on the Todd Pletcher trained Kamarius when the horse reared, unseating the rider, and then kicking him in the leg.  Kamarius, a 2-year-old colt by Candy Ride, was making his first career start.  He went on to finish ninth in a field of 10 with Horacio Karamanos in the irons.

Prior to Sunday’s paddock incident, Castro had ridden 23 winners from 140 mounts, good for third in the overall Monmouth standings.