Lone Star's Top Jock Sidelined

Donnie Meche, Lone Star Park's leading rider and runner-up to Edgar Prado in Friday night's NTRA All-Star Jockey Championship, will miss a minimum of "two to three weeks." The 25-year-old jockey has a shoulder injury suffered June 13 in a water sports accident.

Meche had one winner from three mounts upon his return to the saddle Wednesday, did not accept mounts Thursday, and won two races Friday, including one of the Jockey Championship races.

"The shoulder is very sore," Meche said Saturday, after he was unable to ride the four mounts he was named on that day.

"I'm going to take two to three weeks off to let the shoulder heal," he said. "If I pressed ahead and kept riding, I'm told that it would lead to surgery. I don't want that. So I'll just give it the time to let it heal."

Through Friday, Meche had 53 victories at the meet. Glen Murphy was second in the standings with 39 wins.