Bailey Gets Stitches After Being Thrown at the Spa

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By Claire E. Novak
Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who ranks third among riders for the 2005 Saratoga meet, was thrown before the fourth race on Monday afternoon when his mount, Performing Diva, threw back her head and hit the rider in the face.

The 2-year-old Storm Cat filly, a first-time starter trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, ran loose until she was captured by an outrider. Bailey returned to the paddock, where Albany-based orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Alfred administered several stitches on the bridge of the jockey's nose and under his eye.

"I don't know if my nose is broken or not, but it is pretty sore and swollen," Bailey said. "I'll go down to Albany tomorrow for X-rays and see what happens."

"Thankfully, this happened right before a dark day," said Ron Anderson, Bailey's agent. "He seems fine, and we'll just keep an eye on it over the next few hours."

Bailey plans to resume riding on Wednesday or Thursday.

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