Jockey Vinnie Bednar undergoes spinal cord surgery

Quarter Horse jockey Vinnie Bednar underwent spinal cord surgery Sunday at USC Medical Center after being involved in a one-horse spill Saturday at Los Alamitos, his friends said. A person familiar with Bednar’s conditions said the rider is under observation and that there is concern about his long-term condition.

Bednar was injured when he was unseated from the 3-year-old filly Peek It Up in an allowance race at 300 yards. Peek It Up held an early lead before she suffered a fatal injury.

Bednar, 28, was conscious after the incident, according to a Twitter message from the track.

Bednar is second in the Quarter Horse jockey standings at Los Alamitos this year with 42 wins. His Quarter Horse mounts have earned $641,029.

Since mid-December, Bednar has won four major stakes – the Champion of Champions last December with 2019 World Champion He Looks Hot, the Vessels Maturity on Chocolatito on July 5, the Governor’s Cup Derby with Nomadic on July 26, and the Golden State Derby on Aug. 16 aboard Circle City.

Those horses, and Peek It Up, are owned by Los Alamitos chairman Ed Allred, who has ridden Bednar for two years on a first-call basis.

Bednar was sidelined in early 2018 because of an injury sustained in a race. Later that year, Bednar began the working relationship with Allred. One of their early stakes wins together was the 2018 Los Alamitos Championship on He Looks Hot.

Bednar had his best season in 2019, winning 115 races on all breeds. His mounts earned a personal-best $1,900,785.

A native of Southern California, Bednar began his career riding Thoroughbreds at Turf Paradise in late 2011 and rode at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park the following year. He relocated to Los Alamitos at the end of 2012 and primarily rode Thoroughbreds at the track’s night meeting before becoming more active with Quarter Horses in recent years.