Jauregui Discharged, Begins Physical Therapy

Jockey Luis Jauregui, who fractured one of his lower vertebrae in a Jan. 26 racing accident, was discharged from Arcadia Methodist Hospital Jan. 30 after a four-day stay.

According to the jockey's agent, Alex Procel, Jauregui left the hospital in a wheelchair and will begin immediate therapy with the aid of staff at Arcadia, Calif., hospital.

"It's going to be a slow recovery process," Procel said. "The first time he got out of bed it took him five minutes to get up--and he made it about three steps before he had to lie back down. But he took 12 steps (Jan. 30) and 19 (Jan. 31), so he's coming along."

Jauregui was injured when his mount, first-time starter He's a Triehr, ducked into the gap and unseated his rider after the start of a six-furlong race for maiden claimers at Santa Anita Park.

"That was a bad scene, but Luis is in good spirits now, and it's not easy to be that way when you're in this kind of situation," Procel said. "He's got a lot of therapy to do. We're not even thinking about an estimated riding time right now. We just want to get him back 100%, and if it takes a while, that's OK."