Lone Star rider called paralyzed

Jockey Salvador Perez, who was thrown when his mount fell past the wire in a Quarter Horse race at Lone Star Park last Thursday night, is paralyzed from the chest down, according to friends who visited him over the weekend at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

Perez, 30, was scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday, said Jack Palmer, his valet the last two years. The goal is to correct some damage done to his spine, according to Bill Pettit, the stall superintendent at Lone Star.

"He can move his arms some," said Pettit. "He's in remarkably good spirits."

Lone Star officials said that Perez was conscious after the accident and complained of loss of feeling in the lower half of his body.