Rojas Fractures Vertebrae

• Print

by Karen M. Johnson

Jockey Raul Rojas suffered two fractured neck vertebrae after his mount, Bully for Us, unseated the rider in Aqueduct’s sixth race Nov. 17.

“He will be out at least two months,” said Rojas’ agent, Jorge Velasquez, Nov. 18. “Otherwise, he is okay. He is in some pain. I think he will get out of the hospital in the next day or two.”

Rojas was admitted to North Shore University Hospital in Manhassett, NY, after the accident.

Bully for Us, trained by Scott Schwartz and owned by his father, Herbert, stumbled near the eighth pole in the maiden race for New York-bred 2-year-olds. Bully for Us, who got up after he fell and galloped away, escaped injury. The gelded son of Holy Bullcontested the pace for a quarter mile in the 5 ½-furlong dirt race before tiring.

“It was a freak accident; the horse just went down,” Velasquez said. “I don’t know if he stumbled suddenly or what. He then got up and galloped away.”

No other horses or riders were involved in the spill.

• Print