Panici fractures vertebrae in spill

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Luca Panici will be out of action indefinitely after suffering three veterbrae fractures Saturday in a Gulfstream Park spill.

Panici, a year-round regular at Gulfstream, was injured when thrown from Bourbon Highway about a furlong into the 10th race, a one-mile maiden-special run out of the chute and over a sloppy track. Bourbon Highway, a 3-year-old colt, continued on under his own power.

Panici’s agent, Kevin Meyocks, said Wednesday morning the 46-year-old jockey was resting comfortably and was scheduled to see a specialist later that day for a further prognosis.

This is the latest in a spate of riding-related injuries for Panici, who has ridden 724 winners in the U.S. since 2005 after moving here from his native Italy. He suffered a foot fracture in November 2019, a broken collarbone last February, then fractured ribs in April in yet another spill.

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Panici hails from a renowned family of horsemen and won more than 500 races in Europe. Panici rode in his first Kentucky Derby last September when Sole Volante finished 11th.