Geroux in stable condition after spill at Churchill

The jockey Florent Geroux remained in stable condition Friday while hospitalized in a Louisville intensive care unit after a fall Thursday at Churchill Downs.

Geroux, responding to a Friday morning text message, said he was in pain but that his condition had improved to some extent since Thursday evening.

Neither Geroux nor his agent, Matt Nakatani, elaborated on the nature of Geroux’s injury, though Nakatani said via text that Geroux had not suffered any sort of brain trauma. Geroux is scheduled to undergo further testing Saturday and will “be off all his rides for the foreseeable future,” according to Nakatani.

Geroux was injured when his mount, Flip Flop Freak, fell during a 2-year-old maiden sprint race. Flip Flop Freak subsequently was euthanized, trainer Brian Lynch confirmed Friday.

Geroux, 40, had a transitional season during 2025 but has been in the midst of a resurgence this summer, riding more frequently again for Brad Cox, who used to be his major patron, and getting steady business from the Bob Baffert barn. Geroux was to have ridden in three stakes Saturday. He was named on morning-line favorite Salahudin for Baffert in the Iroquois, on Cash Call for Baffert in the Open Mind, and on Yes It Tiz for Cox in the Locust Grove.

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