Stevens Has Collapsed Lung, Agent Says

Jockey Gary Stevens suffered a collapsed lung but no broken bones in Saturday's fall, when he was run over by a trailing horse after the finish of the Arlington Million (gr. IT), according to Stevens' theatrical agent.

Del Mar president Joe Harper said the latest information on condition of the Hall of Fame rider came from theatrical agent Ed Goldstone, who represents Stevens in his acting career. Stevens made his acting debut in Seabiscuit, playing jockey George Woolf.

According to Harper and Goldstone, Stevens is resting in the critical care ward of Chicago's Northwest Community Hospital and has some discomfort, but is in good spirits. He expects to be released on Wednesday and will fly home then. He's planning to ride Candy Ride in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I).

Stevens' riding agent, Craig O'Bryan, said the rider he is sore but suffered no broken bones.

"The x-rays were negative," O'Bryan said. "He's still in the hospital in Chicago and they're doing an MRI today as a precaution because he's extremely sore, but as of now it appears he was very lucky and didn't break anything."

Stevens was aboard Gainsborough Farm's Storming Home when the horse veered out sharply after spooking at something a few yards before the finish line, tossing the rider to the turf where he was then run over by a rival horse.

Storming Home crossed the wire in front, but was disqualified to fourth after the stewards ruled the horse had impeded two of the top three horses who finished behind him.

"The DQ is unfortunate, but the most important thing is that Gary is going to be all right," O'Bryan said.

It was also costly. Steven's would have earned $60,000 for his 10 percent riding share of the $600,000 winning purse. Fourth money was worth $5,000 to Stevens.