Irad Ortiz Jr. released from hospital after three-horse spill

ELMONT, N.Y. - Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was released from North Shore Hospital Wednesday evening after tests showed that he had not broken any bones in an ugly three-horse spill in Wednesday’s eighth race at Belmont Park. Ortiz had been transported from the turf course to a waiting ambulance on a back-board.

Cornelio Velasquez and John Velazquez, who also went down in the spill, walked off the course and were seen and released by the first-aid department.

Roses for Romney, with Ortiz aboard, appeared to clip heels and fell in midstretch of the seven-furlong race over the Widener turf course. Ear D’ Rhythm, with Cornelio Velasquez up, could not avoid the falling Roses for Romney and also went down. Violet Hour, ridden by Velazquez, fell over Roses for Romney and Ear D’ Rhythm.

Roses for Romney was fatally injured in the spill, while Ear D’ Rhythm and Violet Hour got up, ran off, and were caught.