Report: NorCal jockey Terrero needs surgery, is out indefinitely

Pedro Terrero, the second winningest jockey this year at Golden Gate Fields, was scheduled for surgery next week after a horse stepped on his face in a spill Sunday, Daily Racing Form reported.

Terrero, 38, wound up with fractures to his nose and cheekbone as well as missing teeth, according to what agent Jay Robinson told DRF’s Steve Andersen. The report also said Terrero did not suffer any brain damage. Robinson said Terrero was scheduled for surgery Monday and would be away from the track for an unknown amount of time.

The accident happened early in Sunday’s fifth race for $20,000 claimers going one mile on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate. Terrero was riding Coolcross, a 5-year-old Northern Causeway gelding owned by Lester Hunsucker and trained by Víctor Trujillo.

According to the Equibase chart, “Coolcross was forwardly placed into the first turn, came in tight midway through the turn, clipped heels” with Allaboutthemoney, “lost the rider and walked off under his own power.”

Later, the chart said of the ensuing inquiry, “The stewards ruled that Coolcross caused his own issues when clipping heels and unseating the rider.”

A native of México who has ridden in the U.S. since 2009, Terrero missed more than two years because of a life-threatening accident that forced him to have brain surgery in 2019. After going through rehabilitation, Terrero came back to win the riding title during the autumn meet last year at Golden Gate.

Terrero has 787 wins to his credit, according to Equibase, with purses totaling $13,771,427. He already reached career-highs this year with 133 wins and $3,156,409 in earnings. As of Friday his 105 wins since Dec. 26 at Golden Gate were second only to Evin Román’s 112.