Jockey Scott Stevens in critical condition
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Jockey Scott Stevens is in critical condition after suffering multiple injuries from a fall aboard Sombre in the sixth race at Canterbury Park on Friday night.
Stevens was airlifted by helicopter to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minn. He punctured both lungs and fractured multiple ribs and vertebrae. He also broke his collarbone on both sides. As of noon Central on Saturday, he had feeling and movement in all of his limbs, according to Jeff Maday, media relations manager at Canterbury.
Jockeys Paul Nolan and Don Proctor also suffered significant back injuries in the spill and were taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee. Due to the severity of their injuries, both were later transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Nolan and Proctor both underwent MRI tests and are awaiting the results.
Jockey Dean Butler aboard Run Katster Run, also fell but walked off under his own power. He rode his remaining mount in the seventh race Friday.
Stevens's mount, Sombre, was euthanized on the track due to a leg fracture. Sombre was attempting to wire the field and looked strong on the front end before breaking down just before the quarter pole.
Brook Ghazer could not avoid the fallen Sombre and stumbled over her, throwing Nolan. Brook Ghazer appeared to be okay after the spill and returned to her barn.
Black Ruby tried to veer to the outside to avoid the fallen horses, but Proctor could not hold on and fell. She also was returned to her stable.
Only two of the six starters in the $7,500 claiming sprint completed the course.
Stevens, the 49-year-old older brother of retired Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, holds the Canterbury record for most starts (5,710), and is just seven wins behind Derek Bell, the all-time winningest jockey in track history.
"He means so much to so many of us here at Canterbury," said Maday, "It goes beyond the sport of horse racing. Our thoughts and our prayers are with his friends and family."