Indiana Downs rider fractures vertebrae in spill

Apprentice rider Aparna Battula has two fractured vertebrae and will be out indefinitely after a spill Monday afternoon at Indiana Downs.

Battula was on Uptown Sterling for trainer Fred Jackson in the fourth race Monday when she attempted to move her mount off the rail in the six-furlong event and apparently clipped heels with another horse, causing both horse and rider to fall. Battula was taken by ambulance to Major Hospital in Shelbyville, Ind., where she was treated and released.

Battula was still having complications and pain on Wednesday and went to her physician where she was re-scanned and found she had fractures in vertebrae C7 and T2. A native of India, Battula is a graduate of the North American Racing Academy run by former jockey Chris McCarron.