Soumillon injured in spill

Jockey Christophe Soumillon fractured an elbow in a spill at Nancy Racecourse, 175 miles east of Paris, on Wednesday and could miss the remainder of the French racing season as a result.

The 28-year-old Belgian, three times the champion rider in France, was aboard the front-running Burlada in a claiming race when the filly veered into the hedge. Soumillon was thrown onto the track and stepped on by a passing horse.

The injury comes two weeks after the Aga Khan announced that he would no longer be employing Soumillon after the end of this season. The Aga Khan cited the difficulty of personal relationhips with the jockey after Soumillon had made insulting comments about Andre Fabre at Deauville's annual gala racing dinner. Christophe Lemaire, currently the first-string rider for the Niarchos Family, has been named as Soumillon's replacement at the Aga Khan's stable beginning next year, but could now find himself sporting the Aga Khan's green and red colors sooner than expected.