Whited in induced coma; prospects for recovery good

Trainer David Whited was in an induced coma at a Shreveport, La., hospital on Thursday, but prospects for his recovery from brain trauma suffered earlier in the week were good, a family member said.

The bleeding on Whited’s brain has almost stopped, said his brother, trainer Danny Whited, while the percentage of swelling in his brain is lower than what is typical of patients with similar injuries. He is hospitalized at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport.

“There was a little bleeding on the brain, and it’s about stopped,” said Danny Whited, who is based at nearby Louisiana Downs. “Overall, he’s doing real good. If there are no setbacks, it looks like he’s going to be okay. If nothing else happens, I think in a week he’ll be in really good shape.”

David Whited, 71, is stabled at a training center in Arkansas. He shipped a horse into Louisiana Downs by himself on Tuesday night and may have been injured unloading the animal.

“We don’t know what happened,” he said. “No one was there except him, and he probably won’t remember anything, either.”

Danny Whited said his brother’s vital signs were strong Thursday. He said, at this point, doctors have not said that he would need surgery. Danny Whited said his brother has a small fracture in his face.

David Whited is a retired jockey who won 3,795 races in his riding career. As a trainer, his top runners include All About Allie, a six-time stakes winner of more than $300,000. Whited also put Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel on the 5,000th winner of his career back in March, when Hezunusal took a maiden claiming race at Oaklawn Park.

A fund has been established to help Whited’s family with expenses. Donations can be made to the David Whited Special Fund, in care of the Arkansas Racetrack Chaplaincy, P.O. Box 20564, Hot Springs, AR, 71903.