Injured Jockey Halliday Starts Next Phase Of Recovery Seven Weeks After Spill

Seven weeks after a spill at Delaware Park left him seriously injured, Vince Halliday walked out of Cristiana Hospital in Newark, Del., and entered the next phase of his recovery.

On July 15, Halliday was riding Tua in a maiden claiming race at the Wilmington, Del., track when the filly clipped heels with a horse in front of her. In the ensuing accident, Halliday suffered fractures to vertebrae in his neck and spine, as well as his elbow and scapula, injuries which left him in Cristiana's ICU for several weeks.

Over his weeks in the hospital, the Irish-born jockey has overcome complications like pneumonia and swallowing challenges to reach a point in his recovery where he could return home and start the next phase of his recuperation. Ultimately, Halliday is determined to be back in the saddle when the time is right.

According to Halliday's wife Stephanie Pastore, the fractures he suffered in the spill are healing well. His spinal fractures have mended enough that he no longer requires a back brace or neck collar. His elbow and scapula no longer inhibit movement, leaving only the injuries to his neck muscles, which complicate swallowing, the last remaining challenge in his recovery.

Once Halliday passes a swallowing test and can resume a normal diet, Pastore says he intends to start preparing for a return to the saddle. After a 2008 accident left him with multiple fractures, Halliday worked hard to return to riding. He intends to do the same again over a decade later.

In the meantime, as Halliday recovers and looks forward to a return to the job he loves, the couple remains grateful for all of the support they have received from the racing community. Fundraisers, including a Go Fund Me, and the Delaware Park On Track Medical and Disability Program have enabled Pastore to be there every step of the way as Halliday battled through his injuries. The Delaware Park On Track Medical and Disability Program is an insurance policy that covers “usual and customary” medical expenses for jockeys injured in on-track accidents at Delaware Park. All jockeys licensed to ride there pay an insurance fee per mount for the program.

“The racing community is astounding in the care they've shown us,” Pastore told the Paulick Report. “We have friends from all over, including Ireland and England, contacting us every day to see how Vince is doing.”

Halliday's recovery from his injuries continues to amaze his wife and those who know him.

“Jockeys, pound for pound, are the strongest athletes,” Pastore observed about her husband, who started his career in Ireland and England and then moved to the U.S. in 2008. “We look forward to the next chapter for Vince.”

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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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GoFundMe Campaign Started for Injured Rider Vince Halliday

A GoFundMe.com campaign has been started for jockey Vince Halliday, who suffered serious injuries in a July 15 race at Delaware Park.

According to his wife, Stephanie Pastore, Halliday's injuries include: two small brain bleeds, a C-4 neck fracture, several thoracic fractures, a sternum fracture, a scapular fracture and a broken elbow.

Riding the filly Tua (Normandy Invasion) in a maiden claiming race, Halliday went down when his mount clipped heels with another horse. Pastore said that while there have been no signs of paralysis, Halliday has a difficult period in front of him.

“That I don't know,” she said when asked if Halliday will be able to ride again. “There's not going to be any surgery required for his fractures, but it's going to be a long, long rehab. Knowing Vince, I am sure he will want to go back to riding.”

Pastore said that the bills are already piling up. Halliday has won two races this year and his mounts have earned $75,165.

“Unfortunately, when you are a jockey, if you're not working and racing you're not making any money,” she said. “I work in retail, and I haven't been going to work. So, it's the same for me. I'm not making any money if I'm not working. There are things in place to help jockeys out, but with all the medical bills and trying to pay our mortgage it's going to require some help.”

Jennifer Shannon, who organized the GoFundMe, posted an update Tuesday that read, “Vince remains in the ICU at Christiana Hospital. 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 MRI's have shown multiple fractures to vertebrae and an additional fracture in his sternum.

“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 knows Vince will not be surprised to learn that he asked about the well-being ofTua, 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.”

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