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Woodbine Stewards Suspend Jockey Leo Salles Through Dec. 5

Woodbine stewards have issued a 4 1/2-month suspension to jockey Leo Salles for “careless riding” after a trio of safety-related incidents during the first month of racing at the Ontario track. The 27-year-old native of Brazil told the Toronto Sun he won't appeal the ruling, despite believing the punishment is particularly harsh.

“I think I deserve some days, but I just think it was extreme,” Salles told the Sun. “I apologized. I care about my friends (the other jocks). I just think it is part of horse racing. We know this game is dangerous and this could happen to everybody.”

Salles ended the 2020 season at Woodbine with a 45-day suspension for “endangering the health and safety of another jockey and his horse” on Aug. 9, which was shortened due to COVID, jockey Rafael Hernandez' agent Anthony Esposito told the Paulick Report.

On opening day of the 2021 season on June 12, Salles was involved in incidents in back-to-back races. One earned him a three-day penalty for causing interference, while the second instance of interference a race later earned Salles 10 days and sent Hernandez to the hospital with a hairline vertebral fracture.

“There's a fine line between aggressive and careless and he blurs that line,” Esposito said of Salles.

On July 11, Salles' mount was traveling near the rear of the field when he angled out into the path of an oncoming horse, causing rider Keveh Nicholls to be unseated. Stewards issued an immediate suspension on July 11, pending review, and Nicholls resumed riding several days later.

The stewards ruled on July 15 that Salles will be suspended through Dec. 5, the end of Woodbine's 2021 season. After the suspension, Salles said he plans to ply his trade overseas in the Middle East this winter, where he's ridden before, then to hopefully return to Woodbine for the 2022 season. In the meantime, he hopes to find a job galloping in the mornings at Woodbine.

“I had a very nice career outside of North America, racing in over 20 countries. But I love Canada. My daughter is Canadian. I love Woodbine. I love the horses over here. I love how the trainers treat me. Everything just happened so quick,” Salles told the Sun. “I just think my riding style doesn't match with the rules they have up here.”

Jockey Vince Halliday Remains In The Intensive Care Unit After Delaware Spill

Irish native Vince Halliday remains in critical condition on Tuesday at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., following a spill at Delaware Park on July 15.

Halliday was riding the filly Tua in a $10,000 maiden claiming race, the last race on the day's card. According to Delaware Park steward Robert Colton, near the final turn of the six-furlong race, Halliday and Tua were running just back of two horses, Hot Tail and Normalizeddeviance. When Normalizeddeviance changed leads, her hindquarters drifted slightly into Tua's running lane. Tua then clipped her heels and fell, somersaulting before getting up and running riderless until the track maintenance crew caught her. Halliday fell to the track and then was hurdled by another horse, Commission Actress. Jockey Augusto Marin was unseated when Commission Actress jumped but came away from the incident with no significant injuries.

Halliday's wife Stephanie Pastore shared news of her husband's current condition as he remains in the Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday.

“Vince remains in the ICU at Christiana Hospital,” Pastore wrote. “His brain bleeds have stabilized, however he still has not gained the ability to use his arms. The injuries to Vince's neck and lungs have made it very difficult to breathe on his own. Doctors have had no choice [but] to intubate to keep his Oxygen levels up. He is unable to speak or swallow on his own.

“Attempts to remove the breathing tube have been unsuccessful. Additional MRIs have shown multiple fractures to vertebrae and an additional fracture in his sternum.”

Sarah Crane, executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, added: “His wife Stephanie has been at his side and is relentless in aiding his recovery and encouraging Vince to stay strong. Vince is very frustrated that he cannot move his arms, speak, or breathe on his own. Vince was able to nod at letters in the alphabet to communicate, anyone that know Vince will not be surprised to learn that he asked about the well-being of 'Tua' the filly that fell with him, Vince was happy to learn she will be okay.

“Vince and Stephanie are grateful for the support and the outpouring of love for Vince. Please continue to Pray for Vince and Stephanie during this difficult time.”

The GoFundMe page for Halliday's recovery can be accessed here.

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Amateur Jockey Lorna Brooke Dies After Fall; First British Rider Killed In Racing Accident Since 2005

Amateur jockey Lorna Brooke died in the hospital on Sunday, reports The Guardian, succumbing to injuries she sustained in a fall at Taunton Racecourse on April 8. The 37-year-old is the first jockey killed in a racing incident in Britain since 2005, when Tom Halliday fell at Market Rasen.

Racecourses around Britain observed a moment of silence on Monday, and jockeys wore black armbands.

Brooke was aboard Orchestrated, a horse trained and owned by her mother, Lady Susan Brooke, when she was unseated at the third fence on the course. She was treated on track before being airlifted to Southmead Hospital, where she was treated for suspected spinal injuries. Following complications, Brooke was placed into an induced coma, from which she never emerged.

The amateur jockey had ridden in over 400 races, mostly for her mother, piloting 17 winners in Britain and Ireland since 2001.

Dylan Davis, Jorge Vargas On The Mend After Saturday’s Spill At Aqueduct

Jockeys Dylan Davis and Jorge Vargas, Jr. are on the road to recovery after being unseated from their mounts in Saturday's ninth race, a six-furlong maiden special weight sprint for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Vargas, Jr. was unseated when his mount, Kiss Me Dave, fell entering the turn. Davis was unseated when Tellaperfecttale fell over Kiss Me Dave, while jockey Nik Juarez was unseated by Maybe I Know, who maneuvered to evade the spill.

Tellaperfecttale and Maybe I Know walked off the track under their own power. Kiss Me Dave, a bay daughter of Palace, collapsed and died on track, according to Dr. Anthony Verderosa, director of NYRA veterinarians.

Juarez was transported to first aid for evaluation and immediately cleared, while Davis and Vargas, Jr. were transported to local area hospital for further evaluation.

Davis, a 26-year-old native of Manhasset, New York, incurred a broken clavicle. He will have surgery on Monday and be out for a period of 6-to-8 weeks according to agent Mike Migliore.

Vargas, Jr. will need 4-to-6 weeks to recover from a lumbar fracture per agent Jimmy Riccio, Jr., who said the rider is pointing to a long-term goal of riding at the Monmouth Park summer meet.

Davis was in the midst of a strong Big A winter meet with 44 wins, good for fourth in the jockey standings, including stakes wins with Capo Kane [Jerome], Mrs. Orb [La Verdad] and Just Read It in Saturday's $100,000 Cicada.

Vargas, Jr., a 26-year-old native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, sits seventh in the jockey standings with 28 wins. He notched a pair of stakes wins at the Aqueduct winter meet with Pete's Play Call [Gravesend] and Bella Aurora [Interborough].

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