Jockey Morgan Remains Hospitalized After Spill

Veteran jockey Mike Morgan was hospitalized overnight for treatment of injuries suffered in a chain reaction spill that involved four horses during Sunday's final race at Churchill Downs.

Morgan and three other jockeys - Rafael Bejarano, Daniel Coa and Joe Deegan - were thrown to the track when their mounts fell near the top of the stretch in the 10th race, a one-mile maiden claiming event that included 10 horses. Coa and Deegan were both evaluated at Louisville hospitals, but Bejarano did not require medical treatment after the mishap.

Morgan remained in Norton Audubon Hospital on Monday, but Coa was treated and released from that facility on Sunday evening. Deegan was transported to Caritas Medical Center after the incident, but was also treated and allowed to go home on Sunday evening.

Speaking to representatives from Churchill Downs by telephone fromthe hospital on Monday, Morgan said he continued to experience back pain, but his doctor had advised him that he had suffered no broken bones in the mishap. Morgan said he did not know how long he would be hospitalized or what kind of treatment his injury would require.

The horse that Morgan was riding, Nancy Polk's Lady's Don't Tell, was euthanized on Sunday evening Trainer Peter Salmen, Jr. said the 3-year-old daughter of Lord Avie suffered a broken shoulder when she tumbled over Lil' Bit Of Pucker, who was the first horse to fall in the chain-reaction spill.

Lil' Bit Of Pucker apparently stumbled and fell while running fifth as the field neared the end of the far turn in Sunday's race. Lady's Don't Tell was just behind her and fell over the top of the fallen filly. Darling Bee, ridden by Bejarano, and Zoe In Red, with Deegan in the irons, fell in quick succession after the first two horses went down.

Coa was resting at home on Monday. Deegan was also recovering from home and said he was still feeling pain in his neck and back. He had been scheduled to ride some horses during Monday's training, but took the day off.

There is no racing at Churchill Downs on Monday or Tuesday and the status of the injured riders for Wednesday's card was unknown, although it would appear unlikely that Morgan would ride. He is named on one mount on Wednesday. Deegan is also named to ride one horse on Wednesday, while Coa had no scheduled mounts that day at Churchill Downs. Bejarano, the nation's leading rider with 189 wins through May 23, is scheduled to ride in nine of Wednesday's 10 races.