John fractures pelvis bone

Jockey Kerwin John sustained a fractured pelvis bone in an unusual accident Monday morning at Santa Anita, and will be sidelined until the winter meet begins on Dec. 26. John was injured at trainer Marcelo Polanco's barn after getting on the 2-year-old maiden filly Danse Kongo, who was scheduled to work three furlongs. The filly reared, fell, and rolled over the rider.

"She fell on top of me," John said Tuesday from his room at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. "At first I thought I broke my hip."

John said the accident could have been worse "because we both went down together. I was lucky I had my vest and my helmet on."

John, 29, said he expects to be released late this week.

According to John's agent, Sue McBrayer, the fracture does not require surgery and is the type that usually heals in four to six weeks. Despite the incident, 2004 will be the most successful of John's career. He won 50 races from 597 mounts and had mount earnings of more than $2 million. John won the Grade 2 Lady's Secret with Island Fashion in October. John also won with the last horse he rode. Sunday at Hollywood Park, John won the ninth race on Shush, a 2-year-old maiden filly trained by Polanco. Like Danse Kongo and Island Fashion, Shush is owned and was bred by Jeff Nielsen's Everest Stables.