Jockey Herrera has surgery after mount flips leaving tunnel on way to track

Jockey Gustavo Herrera underwent surgery Thursday to address a cracked tibia sustained in a Wednesday night riding accident at Remington Park.

“It went well,” agent Erik McNeil said of the surgery.

Herrera was injured when his mount in the fourth race, Princess Ball, flipped and landed on top of the rider leaving the tunnel area for the racetrack. Herrera was transported to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, where he remained Thursday.

Following the fourth race Wednesday, Remington officials met with the stewards, the local riding colony, and others and announced the final five races on the card were canceled. The track was expected to race Thursday.

McNeil said Herrera, 30, will have a second surgery in coming days to address a crack in his hip socket. He said the early prognosis is that the rider will be sidelined for three or four months, largely due to the hip socket injury.

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“It has to heal all the way before he can start putting weight [on it],” said McNeil.

McNeil has been in regular contact with Herrera, and through speaker phone Thursday heard the jockey making a special request of his doctor following surgery.

“He asked the doctor if he could sneak out to ride the Classics,” McNeil said of Friday night's stakes card at Remington.

“He’s in good spirits. He’s a tough kid.”

McNeil was headed back to the hospital Thursday night to be with Herrera.

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