Jockey Carr has surgery; full recovery expected

Jockey Dennis Carr underwent surgery Sunday night after sustaining a head injury when thrown from his mount in the starting gate prior to Sunday's fifth race at Golden Gate Fields.

Carr was ejected out of the back of the gate when his mount, Sharpton, reared wildly in the gate. Carr was able to walk following the fall but complained of a headache when he was taken by the track ambulance to the track's medical center, where track physician David Seftel sent him to Highland Hospital in Oakland for a CT Scan.

Doctors at Highland performed surgery Sunday night to remove blood from Carr's brain and to relieve cranial pressure.

Carr was reported as sitting up and "recovering very well" on Monday morning.

"The doctors at Highland said the surgery was a complete success and that there will be a full neurological recovery with no residual brain damage,” said Seftel. "Dennis is sitting up, alert, and recovering very well this morning. He is expected to make a full recovery.”

Carr is expected to remain in the intensive-care unit for one or two days before being transferred to a regular floor.