Russell breaks foot, hopes to ride again at meet

Jockey Sheldon Russell’s first Arlington meeting might have come to a premature end.

Russell was unseated by a 2-year-old first-time starter named Private Prospect before the first race Thursday, breaking his foot and partially tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the incident.

On Friday, Russell said he was feeling well enough, all things considered, and didn’t know how much time he would miss with his injuries. Russell has a doctor’s appointment Monday, by which time it is hoped that swelling at the injury sites will have subsided sufficiently to assess a course of rehabilitation and a time frame for his return to action.

“I hope I can ride again this meet, but I really don’t know,” said Russell, whose 20 wins through June 22 ranked sixth in the local standings.

The horses were being mounted to go to the track Thursday when Russell’s ride suddenly acted up.

“As I jumped on, he was fine,” he said. “As we were walking, I was just tying the knot in the reins, and I don’t know if he spooked from something he saw, but he half went up, came back down, and went right back up all the way. I never had time to react. The timing’s very unfortunate, but I’m just happy it’s not worse. I can deal with these problems.”