A jockey never quite knows what to expect when the gates open, whether it's in a Grade 1 stakes race or a routine turf allowance. Rider David Cohen got an unusual reminder of that on Sunday, when he found himself doing a somersault over the hedges at Churchill Downs.
Cohen's ride in the eighth race, a 4-year-old Chad Brown trainee named Magic Star, had five other races under her belt, all of them without incident, so he didn't expect anything unusual. The pair broke from the insidemost gate, and settled along the rail toward the middle of the pack. Suddenly, as they began rounding the first turn, Magic Star leapt forward and to her left, then propped and dove into the thick evergreen hedge to her left. The upward hop after her first bobble dislodged Cohen, who was then propelled straight into the air and did a somersault over the filly's head as Magic Star careened into the bushes.
“It wasn't anybody's fault,” he said, noting she was surrounded by horses at the time, but wasn't squeezed or bothered. “I don't know if it was a case of it just being a hedge. Maybe she's used to seeing a rail next to her. I really don't know what she did, she just kind of bailed and didn't want to be in that tight spot.
“I believe my arm got caught up in the rein a little bit, and I believe that's what may have dragged her into the bushes. It looks like she may have jumped into it as well. But her first initial jump was not into the bushes. It happened so quick. It was over before I even knew what happened.”
Fortunately, there is no railing on the inside of the Churchill turf course, so the mare had nothing other than the vegetation to pose a hazard to her on her way in or out of the hedge.
Cohen also landed in the hedge and after a few moments, realized he was unharmed. Magic Star got out of the hedge and galloped away, eventually getting picked up by an outrider. Cohen said he knew the field would be coming back around to finish the race soon, but with no inside rail to duck under, he had to hustle to get off the course.
David Cohen and Magic Star go careening into the hedge at Churchill June 14. Both were unharmed.
“Churchill is one of those turf courses where the wire is maybe about 50 feet to the turn,” he said. “I had to make it across the turf course or they would've had to cancel the race. I don't want anyone to cancel a race when they don't have to. I was very happy to see her continue to run away. She didn't stand there and not want to move, and I knew that was a good sign that she was still able and willing and capable to run with no issues.”
David Cohen and Magic Star go careening into the hedge at Churchill June 14. Both were unharmed.
Renee Gallagher, a photographer with Coady Photography based at Churchill, had her camera ready at just the right moment to catch the incident.
Cohen reported that he checked in on Magic Star the following morning and learned that while a little body sore, she was not seriously hurt. He expects to see her back in the entries in due course, and said he'd have no problem riding her again.
David Cohen and Magic Star go careening into the hedge at Churchill June 14. Both were unharmed.
“In some cases, there's a little bit more warning and normally that's because, for example, another rider or horse causes something by coming down and you've clipped heels, but I was never put in that position,” he said. “It's just one of those very fluke type of situations. I don't foresee her doing that ever again. I don't think she's a dangerous type of horse. I think it's just one of those weird situations, and we're blessed that the horse made it out and I did as well.”
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