Horse, rider escape serious injury after spill results in no-contest

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The third race at Keeneland on Friday was declared a no-contest after a spill in which horse and rider both appeared to escape serious injury.

As the field was passing the finish line for the first time in the 1 1/8-mile claiming race on the main track, Ransomware and jockey Santo Sanjur, who were racing in the clear between horses toward the back of the track, tumbled to the track. Ransomware got to his feet and briefly ran off in the opposite direction, bucking due to a slipped-back saddle and girth; it was unclear if the saddle slipped prior to, or as a result of, his fall. The gelding was caught by an outrider near the gap onto the track, and later vanned back to the barn. On exam, he was found to have only minor abrasions, according to Keeneland.

Meanwhile, Sanjur laid on his back for a moment before sitting up and moving his legs. He continued to sit and be attended to by first-aid. With Sanjur still on the track, the other seven horses remaining in the race were pulled up around the far turn. Sanjur was driven off the track in a first-aid van, and was being evaluated by University of Kentucky Healthcare. A message to his agent seeking more details on his status was not immediately returned.

Due to the no contest, all wagers inside the third race, and all multi-race wagers that began with the race are refunded. For the pick 3s that began in the first and second race, the double and the pick 4 that began in the second race, and the pick 5 that began in the first race, the no contest race became an "all" for wagering purposes.

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