Beckner stable after surgery

Jockey Dale Beckner, injured in a spill at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28, is in stable condition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after undergoing surgery Wednesday to insert titanium plates in his skull and reconstruct his nose and eye socket. He remains in the intensive care unit.

Beckner, 37, also has some bleeding in his brain, which doctors are monitoring to make sure it doesn't increase, according to Chamissa Goodwin, a fellow jockey and Beckner's girlfriend.

"He is doing as well as can be expected, he hopes to get out of ICU later today." Goodwin said Thursday morning.

Beckner was hurt when his mount, Private Exchange, broke down on the lead and threw him. A trailing horse stepped on Beckner's face and head.

The accident comes on he heels of Beckner winning the biggest race of his career, the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park aboard Soul Warrior on Aug. 2. Beckner, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 1994, was sixth in the Presque Isle standings as of Sept. 1. He has 986 career wins. and mount earnings of more than $26.7 million.