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Jockeys Escape Injury in Churchill Spill

Updated: Tuesday, November 6, 2001 9:37 AM
Posted: Sunday, November 4, 2001 4:29 PM
A spill during the second race at Churchill Downs Sunday left one horse dead and two jockeys sent to the hospital as a precaution.

During the $7,500 claiming heat, Charles Woods Jr.'s mount, Da Big Dawg, fell after breaking his right front leg and threw the jockey to the track. A trailing Upgrade, with Justin Vitek in the irons, fell over the fallen horse leaving Vitek motionless on the track for several minutes.

Vitek and Woods were treated and released from Jewish Hospital, track officials said. The two are expected to ride on Tuesday.

Da Big Dawg was euthanized on the track. Upgrade avoided serious injuries.

Woods, 51, won his first race since returning from an injury suffered in July at Ellis Park, his third major injury in the last 18 months. The Louisville native complained of a headache following the incident.

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