Jockey Wilson Listed in Serious, But Stable, Condition

Jockey Rick Wilson remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition Saturday, one day after breaking his right leg and three ribs in a spill at Pimlico Race Course.

In the fourth race at Pimlico on Friday, Home Verse broke a leg coming out of the final turn. Wilson was thrown to the track, and hit by another horse. Wilson's agent, John Salzman Jr., said the jockey had no internal injuries.

Wilson was on the lead aboard the 7-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile claiming race when the 4-year-old Homebuilder filly broke down at the top of the stretch. Wilson was struck by Rangeley Skier, one of the trailing horses. Preliminary reports from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma hospital in Baltimore said Wilson had broken his left femur and also suffered broken ribs on the left side of his ribcage.

Home Verse, racing for Allaire C. duPont and John Franks and trained by Ben Perkins Jr., was euthanized. The filly carried a $15,000 claiming tag in the race, the same amount she raced for last time out when she won at Delaware Park.

Wilson, a 28-year riding veteran, has 4,778 career wins, 26th on the all-time list, according to the Pimlico publicity department. Just two months ago, Wilson enjoyed one of his best career days, riding five winners at Pimlico on the eve of his birthday. He has won 118 races this year, including nine times aboard the sensational 3-year-old filly sprinter Xtra Heat. Wilson had been named to ride eight horses on Saturday's Maryland Million Day program at Pimlico, including Harbor of Grace in the Maryland Million Classic.