Aqueduct: Dominguez begins rehabilitation program for brain injury

Jockey Ramon Dominguez has begun a brain injury rehabilitation program at a hospital in White Plains, N.Y., as he continues to recover from a fractured skull he suffered in a spill at Aqueduct last month.

Last Wednesday, Dominguez was transferred from New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan to the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. It is uncertain how long he will have to remain at Burke.

"Ramon continues to do well and is improving every day," Sharon Dominguez, Ramon's wife, said in a press release issued through the New York Racing Association. "He was transferred to Burke on Wednesday, completed initial evaluations on Thursday, and started a brain injury rehabilitation program on Friday.

"As Ramon takes the next steps in his treatment, he and I would like to thank everyone again for the continued support and prayers." Dominguez added. "Although his injury will take time to heal, Ramon is on the road to a full recovery."

Dominguez, 36, was injured in a spill at Aqueduct on Jan. 18 when the horse he was riding, Convocation, clipped heels with a horse in front of him and fell, hurling Dominguez to the ground.

Dominguez spent five days in Jamaica Medical Center Hospital near Aqueduct before being transferred on Jan. 22 to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.

Dominguez was moved out of the intensive care unit of New York-Presbyterian on Jan. 24 before moving to Burke last week.

On Jan. 19, Dominguez was honored with his third straight Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding jockey. In 2012, he set a single-year North American earnings record with $25.6 million. He has been the leading rider on the New York Racing Association circuit for the last four years.