Ferndale: Matt Garcia fractures spine in spill

Jockey Matt Garcia suffered a C7 fracture of the spine during a spill on Sunday at the Humboldt County Fair meet in Ferndale, Calif., according to track publicity director Ellis Davis.

Garcia, the leading rider at the meet, was flown from Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna to Santa Rosa on Sunday night. Doctors there could find no indication of paralysis, Davis said.

Garcia, who had already ridden three winners on the card, was in good position aboard 7-10 favorite Madison Shore in the sixth race on Sunday when his mount veered out and bumped Imasassytwo on the first turn, dumping Garcia.

Garcia got up and made it to safety in the infield, and initially he was thought to have injured his left elbow. But a CT scan showed the spinal fracture and he was transported to Santa Rosa where specialists could examine the injury.

Madison Shore eventually jumped the outer fence and ran back to the barn area, running over one person, who was uninjured.