Evangeline: Injured Hebert to resume riding Saturday

OPELOUSAS, LA. – Four weeks to the day after being severely injured in a spill at Evangeline Downs, jockey Tracy Hebert will resume riding in Saturday’s third race at Evangeline Downs.

Hebert, 48, was thrown to the ground and hit by a trailing horse in the last race at Evangeline on May 11. Despite breaking 12 ribs, his sternum, his nose, and having two collapsed lungs, Hebert only stayed in the hospital three nights. Upon being released, he visited the track and predicted he “could be all healed up in about a month.” Hebert’s longtime agent, Huey Lyons, said Hebert’s doctor released him to go back to work on Monday. His Saturday mount is John Louisminister, a statebred maiden trained by Clyde McKean.

“He galloped three on Tuesday and worked five today,” Lyons said Wednesday. “After each horse, I asked how he was and he said there was no pain or anything wrong.

“I didn’t take any calls, so as not to have to disappoint,” he added. “But he popped this one out of the gate this morning, so we took the mount.”

Hebert worked John Louisminister a half-mile in 49.40 seconds.

“I asked Tracy if he was ready to go a mile,” Lyons said, “and he said ‘put me on!’ ”

Hebert was fourth in the local standings at the time of his accident. He has 3,426 career wins.