Aid fund set up for Brimo rehabilitation

A fund has been established at Fifth Third Bank in Kentucky to assist with the cost of rehabilitation for jockey Julia Brimo, who suffered head and back injuries in an Oct. 30 spill at Keeneland.

Brimo, who galloped for trainer Ronny Werner and rode some of his horses at Turfway Park earlier this fall, continues to improve each day but still faces a long road to recovery, the trainer's wife, Cindy Werner, said Monday. Cindy Werner was responsible for establishing the aid fund.

Surgery last week on Brimo's fourth and fifth vertebrae went well, Werner said, and Brimo is off a respirator and can speak with visitors as she recovers in the intensive care unit at University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington.

Werner said Brimo has movement in her extremities.

"It's still coming back," she said.

Although the bulk of Brimo's riding career has come in Canada, where she won a Sovereign award as the top apprentice jockey of 2003, she has spent recent years in Kentucky, working as an exercise rider and jockey.

Contributions can be made at any Fifth Third Bank, with donations payable to the Julia Brimo Fund. Checks made payable to the Julia Brimo Fund can also be mailed to Cindy Werner at 1116 Flat Rock Road, Louisville, Ky., 40245.