Deshawn Parker—fifth all-time among active riders and 18th on the all-time North American wins list—underwent successful surgery June 28 to repair extensive fractures in his pelvis and tailbone suffered in a pre-race accident June 27 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
The news was first reported Thursday by Marcus Hersh of Daily Racing Form. Agent Jimmy McNerney confirmed the injury, which occurred prior to Tuesday's eighth race while Parker was preparing to load 4-year-old maiden Dabney.
"She spooked out of nowhere, reared, and flipped," McNerney said. "He tried to jump clear but didn't have much time. She landed on him and he knew immediately he was hurt. Then she rolled back over top of him, and as she stood up she stepped on him.
"He's fortunate that's all that happened. He said when she was rolling over her legs were going everywhere and that he was lucky she didn't kick him, too."
Parker, 52, suffered four fractures in his pelvis and a break of his tailbone. On Wednesday doctors inserted a metal plate and screws into his abdomen.
"It went well," McNerney said. "He said once they got in there it wasn't as bad as they anticipated."
A winner of both the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award presented by Santa Anita Park and the Mike Venezia Award from the New York Racing Association, two of the most prestigious honors for jockeys, Parker is expected to make a full recovery, although how long that will take is unknown. McNerney said Parker will have to rest for six weeks before beginning rehab but has already expressed his desire to get back to riding as soon as doctors clear him to work.
"He's eager to get to the doctor and see the exact timetable," McNerney said. "He's optimistic and just said, 'That's horse racing, what are you gonna do?' But he's such a humble and classy guy he wouldn't ever want anyone to feel sorry for him."
Parker was tied for sixth in this season's Horseshoe Indianapolis standings. McNerney was anticipating business picking up in July with the end of the Churchill Downs meet at Ellis Park, when more Kentucky horses will be shipping to Indiana.
McNerney said in the hours since Hersh's story posted online his phone was blowing up with calls and texts from concerned horsemen and other friends and supporters of Parker's from around the country.
"Deshawn is a racing icon and an Indiana legend," Horseshoe Indianapolis vice president and general manager Eric Halstrom said. "Our thoughts are with him in hopes for a speedy recovery, and we can't wait to see him in the saddle here soon."
