Tampa Bay Downs: Jockey Allen 'sore' following spill but expects to ride Saturday

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Jockey Ronnie Allen Jr, currently the second leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs, escaped serious injury Thursday after he was thrown from his mount during the eighth race.

Allen, who had won a race earlier in the card to give him 25 winners for the current stand, was aboard Second Appeal in a six-furlong claiming sprint when the 4-year-old filly fell midway through the turn, throwing Allen to the ground.

The jockey was taken to St. Joseph Hospital where X-rays proved negative. He was later released.

Allen took off his mounts Friday but speaking from home said he was “sore but lucky” and planned to ride on Saturday.

Second Appeal was euthanized due to her injuries.

While Allen was fortunate to emerge from spill relatively unscathed, the accident did cost him a winner as Jr’s Exchange, Allen’s mount in the ninth race, defeated a field of turf sprinters going five furlongs on the turf with substitute rider Angel Serpa aboard.