Rider hurt in Del Mar training accident

DEL MAR, Calif. - Former jockey Jeff Bloom, an exercise rider and representative for West Point Thoroughbreds, was injured Friday morning in a one-horse spill at Del Mar.
Bloom, who had been planning to ride in a race later this meet, was back-tracking on an unidentified 2-year-old when the horse tried to jump the outside rail. Bloom was thrown from the horse and, according to witnesses, hit his ribs against the outer rail and fence on the clubhouse turn.
The 2-year-old’s trainer, Craig Dollase, said the loose horse was caught and appeared to escape injury. Bloom was preparing to breeze the horse.
Bloom was conscious and talking to medical personnel as he was loaded on an ambulance at 9 a.m. for transport to a local medical facility. Details on his condition were not immediately known.
Bloom is the executive vice president of West Coast operations for West Point Thoroughbreds, whose Awesome Gem recently won the Hollywood Gold Cup. Bloom resides in nearby Oceanside with his wife, Susan, and daughters Ashley and Hannah.