Updated on 01/20/2013 2:03AM

Aqueduct: CAT scan reveals Dominguez has a skull fracture following Friday spill

By David Grening
Email
Barbara D. Livingston
Ramon Dominguez last month after breaking the earnings record.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Ramon Dominguez suffered a fractured skull after being involved in a spill during the running of Friday's seventh race at Aqueduct, according to his agent Steve Rushing. Dominguez remained hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition on Friday night.

It was unclear how long he would be hospitalized and when he would be able to ride again. Before the results of a CAT scan revealed the skull fracture, Dominguez had originally been diagnosed with a bruise over his right eye.

Dominguez was sitting behind horses aboard 4-5 favorite Convocation in Friday's seventh race. Coming to the top of the stretch, Convocation clipped heels with Sovereign Default, prompting Convocation to fall forward and hurling Dominguez hard to the inner dirt course.

A trailing horse, Straight Fax, jumped over Convocation, but it wasn't clear whether or not that horse clipped Dominguez.

Dominguez was hurriedly placed on a stretcher and into an ambulance and taken directly to Jamaica, the closest hospital to Aqueduct.

Convocation, who raced for Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole and who was claimed out of the race by David Jacobson, appeared to escape the incident unharmed.

Dominguez, who earlier in the day picked up career victory 4,984, is the two-time defending Eclipse Award winning rider. He was expected to receive his third straight Eclipse Award on Saturday night at an awards ceremony at Gulfstream Park.

In 2012, Dominguez set a North American earnings record with $25,582,252. He won 341 races from 1,398 mounts despite missing nearly two months because of a neck injury in the spring and a foot injury in the fall.

Alfredo Brunone 10 months ago
QUE TE SIGAS MEJORANDO RAMON, ERES EL ORGULLO DE TODOS LOS HIPICOS VENEZOLANOS...SEGUIMOS ORANDO POR TU TOTAL RECUPERACION..
kocracing 10 months ago
Hoping and praying you get done for speeding on the Road to Recovery. kieranoconnellracing.com
Louisa Foye 10 months ago
We are reminded with each gut-wrenching accident how incredibly courageous these amazing athletes are, as over and over again, each and every day they race throughout the entire year, they risk life and limb as they maneuver in and out at high speeds, aboard the other great athletes that grace the sport we love! I, too, am appalled that no mention of Ramon's accident was even made in brief during any of the "news" saturated Sportscenters yesterday or today! For those of us fortunate enough to have seen Ramon on a regular basis, we know that he's a true gentleman and represents our often maligned sport with tremendous grace, dignity and humility. May God bless Ramon & Sharon & the kids during his recovery, and may those close by who have the wherewithal to do so, make sure he receives the top notch medical attention as he so richly deserves, and as any other Superstar athlete, much less in NYC, would get without question!
Anonymous 10 months ago
Knowing the first class athlete Ramon is I am sure once he heals he will be back with a riding vengence. What troubles me is that very little is discussed on the NYRA , TVG, and HRTV TV programs about his diagnosis and recovery road. In the NFL, NBA and Baseball reams of media reports deluge the airways about a first class athelete's condition. Jockeys are just as important and certainly as great athlete as stars/participants in the above named sports. I mean A-rod had an operation and they talked for hrs on talk radio about it.
Susan Huart 10 months ago
God speed your recovery, Ramon.
Billy Spathanas 10 months ago
Thoughts and Prayers with Ramon and his family. May you have a speedy recovery.
Rob Falcone 10 months ago
Joe you are so ignorant. You have no idea what you are talking about. You shouldn't speak until you walked a mile in these athletes riding athletes shoes.
Steve Motors 10 months ago
take a course in penmenship
Steve Motors 10 months ago
ramon rode that one like paco rides all his raes
Steve Motors 10 months ago
races
Skip Ean 10 months ago
I hope they get Ramon out of that hellhole of a hospital they brought him to (it's closest to Aqueduct). I lived in Queens for many years and that hospital is infamous for its mistakes and criminal element. Ramon deserves the best hospital, so i hope his wife moves him to New York Presbyterian or similar great hospital. My heart goes out to him and i hope he can overcome this and return to the game.
Susan Huart 10 months ago
One would think they would have a trauma unit near Aqueduct, and another spec clinic for the horses. There are so many serious spills at this track.
Joe I 10 months ago
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Ramon, hate to see anyone get hurt. However it was a terrible terrible ride, approaching the half he could have easily angled out into the 3 path and had clear sailing. Instead he sits in behind 4 horses and recklessly tries to force his way out and clips rear heels with the horse he cuts off. Obviously he received the worst of it, and although no one else was hurt he endangered the lives of other riders in the race. The seriousness of his injuries are penalty enough, however had he not been injured I would hope he would've been suspended.
Sarah Titus 10 months ago
Yeah, you're right, Ramon has no idea how to ride. He's terrible. Seriously?
Joe I 10 months ago
Yes I am right. I think most knowledgeable horse players and other riders would agree. I didn't say he was a terrible rider. He's an excellent rider. However, he did ride a terrible race. All of the best riders make mistakes from time to time. Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers are great qb's do they make terrible throws sometimes? Yes of course. Once he recovers I would bet if asked he would even admit to riding that race very very poorly.
Clinton Potts 10 months ago
This coming froma critic who has never thrown a football or ridden a racehorse. Get a life dude.
Melania Crow 10 months ago
Horseplayers don't know jack about horses or what goes on, on the track itself. Don't lump riders into your assumption. I showed, trained and raised Quarter horses for 30 years and I still can't even imagine what goes into riding these race horses and the dynamics on the track. You can't put man and animal together and expect things to play out like you thought they would from your pp's. How bout you see if someone will let you run their horse on track with 5 or 6 other horses and then lets see if you still think you are right and knowledgeable.. actually, why don't you just see if some 4-H'er will lead you around on their horse. I'm sure that will be enough to shut you up.
UPTOWN ANTHEM 10 months ago
really Joe? I don't think this is the appropriate time to be saying that stuff. Let's just pray he makes it, that stuff doesn't matter at all right now.
Rob Falcone 10 months ago
Joe you are so ignorant. You have no idea what you are talking about. You shouldn't speak until you walked a mile in these athletes riding athletes shoes.
John Madeiros 10 months ago
God Bless Praying for a full recovery