Two Jockeys, Horses Injured During Track Collision

A thoroughbred went down at Los Alamitos Race Course, triggering a second fall that broke the rider's ribs.

The jockey on the lead horse was treated at the track and released, but the jockey whose horse collided with the first to fall -- Cesar De Alba -- was more seriously hurt. He was expected to be released from a hospital today, according to Orlando Gutierrez of the racetrack.

The accident happened about 9 p.m. Friday during Race 4 -- a 4 1/2 furlong race -- and, after the accident, the racing continued.

``The horses were turning for home, when one horse fell down and one horse could not avoid the horse and tripped over him, and the jockey was thrown,'' Gutierrez said.

De Alba was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange. `

`His agent, Neil Bricks, said he may have suffered broken ribs,'' Gutierrez said. ``He was complaining of pain along his right arm and shoulder.''

De Alba's mount, Merlin Z, was returned to the barn under his own power, and Onebadboy, whose jockey was Guillermo Gutierrez, was ``vanned off,'' the track spokesman said.

Officials have not said what caused the first horse's injury. published in March, the Los Alamitos Race Course has the state’s worst rate for horse injuries and breakdowns and is fifth worst in the nation.

-City News Service