Jockey remains in induced coma

Lyndie Wade, the 16-year-old apprentice involved in a horrifying spill Friday at Hawthorne, remained in a drug-induced coma late Saturday afternoon, but was expected to regain consciousness sometime Saturday night and is expected to fully recover from his injuries, said his agent, Jay Fedor.

Wade was knocked out when his horse, Chestnut Gold, broke down at the quarter pole in Friday's third race. Chestnut Gold went down with no warning and fell hard. Wade bounced away from the rail and appeared to be struck by at least one trailing horse. He was taken to Loyola Hospital in nearby Maywood, Ill., where he was placed on a ventilator - standard hospital policy in such situations - and given drugs to induce a coma. Wade had minor bleeding on the brain but that had subsided Saturday, and Wade did not appear to have suffered head trauma that would have lasting effects.

Fedor also said that Wade appeared to have escaped other serious injury. Wade's lung collapsed, but that problem quickly was addressed and also had improved by Saturday.

Chestnut Gold, who had to be euthanized, struck Arazi Exchange - who was uninjured - who unseated Randy Meier. Meier, locked in a battle for leading rider, broke the humerus bone in his arm and is expected to require surgery.

Leading rider Tim Thornton also wound up in the hospital Friday night. His mount in the sixth race stumbled badly at the gate, throwing Thornton, who also suffered a collapsed lung. Thornton was being kept in the hospital for observation until Sunday, according to his agent, Jimmy Ernesto. Thornton could return to action Wednesday or Thursday, Ernesto said.