Monsters have taken over Saratoga

My latest article on Smilepolitely.com:

Only seven horses will break from the gate of the 140th running of the Grade I $1-million dollar Travers Stakes this Saturday, and for good reason: it's infested with monsters. OK, maybe not quite saber-toothed monsters, like the kind that lurk in your closet and the shadows under your bed (Go check, I'll wait...), but nonetheless, there are scary contenders to be found within....

Read the rest here.

P.S. Today, jockey Rafael Bejarano is supposed to return to riding for the first time since his accident where he injured his shoulder and basically broke his face. Let's wish him a successful comeback to the races!

Rafael Bejarano suffers bad fall on Del Mar opening day

Rafael Bejarano, one of the leading jockeys in California, was badly injured in a claiming race yesterday when his mount, Mi Rey, broke down in the middle of the stretch.

Full details can be found at this link on Blood-Horse.

Raf's jaw, nose, and orbital bones were fractured in the fall; he also hurt his left shoulder. Mi Rey, an 8-year-old gelding, was euthanized.

Rafael was Del Mar's top jockey last year, and will likely be out for a week or more to recover. So far, it's unclear if he'll have surgery to his face.

After Rene Douglas's horrible accident, this is just one more scare that drives home how dangerous this sport can be.

Let's wish Rafael a speedy, full recovery.