MIAMI - Nobody would have blamed jockey Constantino Hernandez if he "needed a race" when he rode Falcon's Dream in Monday's third event at Calder Race Course. After all, it was the first mount for Hernandez in more than 19 years.
The last time Hernandez had ridden was on April 23, 1988, his 31st birthday, in a 1 1/8-mile turf race at Calder. His horse, Flying Rice, fell suddenly while dueling for the lead entering the clubhouse turn. Hernandez was thrown to the ground and then trampled by several horses, one of whom stepped on his head.