Fair Grounds Jockey Johnson Breaks Collarbone

Jockey Pat Johnson, who had been winning races with increasing regularity at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, suffered a broken collarbone when a horse he had just ridden tripped while returning to be unsaddled following  the fourth race March 16.

"It was a clean break," said Johnson, speaking over the phone on the morning of March 17. "Tomorrow or possibly on Wednesday they're going to put a plate in there to put the bone back together and right now I'm estimating I'll be out for about four weeks, maybe less than that."

Augusta Goose had pressed the pace in the $10,000 maiden claiming race for 3-year-olds before tiring to finish seventh in the 5 1/2-furlong main track heat. The fall occurred as Johnson was guiding Augusta Goose back to be unsaddled.

Johnson had won with 10 of 80 mounts at the current Fair Grounds meet through March 16.