Belterra: Parker avoids serious injury in spectacular spill

Jockey Deshawn Parker managed to avoid serious injury during a scary-looking spill during the stretch run of Saturday’s $75,000 Tall Stacks Stakes at Belterra Park.

Parker was moving toward an opening with his stakes-winning 3-year-old colt Gliding Along from sixth place when Mound, ridden by Megan Fadlovich, shied from a right-handed whip and Gliding Along clipped his rival’s heels. Parker somersaulted over his mount’s head and was thrown to the track.

After a brief period on the ground, Parker was helped up and walked to the ambulance as the crowd enthusiastically applauded.

“I could hear that and really appreciated it,” said Parker.

As a precautionary measure, he had X-rays taken of his elbow at nearby Anderson Township Hospital. “Everything checked out fine and they gave me a few stitches,” Parker said. “I’m sure I’ll be sore in the morning and will probably be off about a week to let the elbow heal.”

At the time of the incident, Boot Legger was making a strong move in the center of the track and appeared to hit the finish line simultaneously with his stablemate Unbridled Graduate, who was sweeping past the field wide from the outside after a bad start. The two horses circled outside the winner’s circle for several minutes as the placing judges examined the photo to find Boot Legger winning by a nose. Since both horses are owned by Mast Thoroughbreds and trained by Bob Gorham, they had their photo taken together after the race.