Cardenas making progress as he rehabs from July spill

When jockey Luis Cardenas was injured in a spill at Saratoga in July, it was presumed he would miss only a couple of weeks. Six months later and Cardenas has still not returned to the saddle, but he is progressing.

Cardenas, who suffered more serious head trauma than initially reported, said he is scheduled to meet with a neurologist in the third week in January. At that consultation, he is hoping to get cleared to begin getting on horses again with the goal of returning to race-riding in February.

“Best-case scenario, if everything goes well in February I should be getting some action in the afternoon,” Cardenas said. “It’s been a long time, too long for me.”

Cardenas was the leading apprentice jockey in wins on the NYRA circuit, winning 30 races before his apprenticeship expired in May. He had won three races as a journeyman before being injured in a spill at Saratoga on July 16, the second day of the meet.

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In addition to his head trauma, Cardenas suffered an injury to his back. On Wednesday, he had his last day of physical therapy.

“My back muscles were a little damaged,” Cardenas said. “My back was so sore, it took a long time before I could feel much better.”