Conner is 'in great spirits' morning after spill at Colonial

For Tyler Conner, the news was as good as could be hoped for Friday morning after a Thursday afternoon spill that left the jockey with a fracture of his C1 vertebrae, at the top of his spine.

"He is in great spirits and expected to make a full recovery," agent Paula Bacon said via text. "He has movement everywhere, but his left arm is not working well."

Conner, 32, went down during the seventh race on Thursday at Colonial Downs, where his mount Stanza clipped heels with eventual winner Montador, whom stewards disqualified from first and placed seventh. Colonial cancelled races 8-11 on Thursday but will race as scheduled Friday with a 4 p.m. EDT first post.

Stanza, who was making his second start, 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.

Trainers, owners, fans and fellow jockeys all took to the social media site X to express their concern and support for Conner.

"His popularity is unmatched," Bacon said. "My phone has been constant."