Colonial cancels 4 races after Conner fractures neck & nose

Jockey Tyler Conner suffered fractures to his neck and nose in a seventh-race spill Thursday at Colonial Downs. Track management canceled the last four races after the Conner was airlifted from the New Kent, Va., track to VCU Medical Center in Richmond.

"Broke C1 and has broken nose," Paula Bacon, Conner's agent, said in a text message Thursday afternoon. She preceded that by saying, "He is awake and talking to people. I just spoke to him, and he was in really good spirits, and all the feeling is coming back."

Right after the spill, Conner told on-site personnel he could not feel his legs.

Conner, 32, was aboard Stanza in a maiden special-weight race for 3-year-olds and up going 5 1/2 furlongs on the outer turf. Conner guided his mount outside for what appeared to be a clear run at the leaders, but Francisco Arietta aboard Montador came out. The two clipped heels, and Stanza went down with Conner, while Montador went on to finish first. However, stewards disqualified Montador.

"In support of the jockey colony at Colonial Downs, we canceled the remaineder of the race card today," the track said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Conner and his team."

Stanza, who was in his second race, was taken back to owner-trainer Elizabeth Merryman's barn. Merryman told Daily Racing Form that the 3-year-old Great Notion gelding suffered only nicks and bruises.

Colonial is scheduled to resume racing at 4 p.m. EDT on Friday.