Four riders hospitalized following spill

BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Five horses and their jockeys were involved in a frightening spill in Sunday's ninth and final race at Louisiana Downs.

The incident was triggered when Haran, ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, broke down entering the far turn while pressing the pace in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for maiden claimers. The forward-running Get the Prize, with Francisco Torres aboard, immediately fell over his stricken rival. Heat Pump, ridden by Rico Flores, Invisible Force with E.J. Perrodin up, and Brazos Cat with Lonnie Meche in the saddle, all attempted to jump the fallen horses and each lost their riders.

Perrodin apparently escaped serious injury as he walked back to the jockeys' quarters. Two of the remaining riders were transported to Christus Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport and two were taken to Willis Knighton Medical Center in Bossier City.

Haran was euthanized soon after the incident with the other four horses believed to have escaped serious injury.