Hall of Famer Pat Day successfully underwent hip surgery on Wednesday and has
already started rehabilitation. The surgery was performed by Dr. Marc Philippon
at Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado.
Day started his rehabilitation activities immediately after the surgery,
getting on a stationary bicycle for about 20 minutes within four hours of the
procedure. He will continue his rehabilitation in Vail until April 9.
The Eclipse Award-winning jockey told Churchill Downs officials on Thursday
that he still has a faint hope of riding in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 7,
but said the deterioration of the labrum, which is the cartilage that lines the
hip joint, was more extensive than anticipated.
“There was a little more deterioration in there than they thought there was
at first,” Day said. “But they were able to clean it all up, repair the major
portion of the cartilage and clean up the bone spurs. The doctor was very happy
with the outcome of the surgery and everything went really well.”
Nonetheless, the 51-year-old rider is hoping he recovers in time to continue
his string of 21 consecutive rides in the Derby.
“We haven’t thrown it out the window yet,” Day said. “The physical therapist
as well as the doctor said last night that I was responding better than any
patient they’ve ever had in the way that I was able to get up and get around.
“We still have hope, but we’re not going to press it. We’re going to try to
do what the doctor tells us to do and trust that the recovery process will be
speedy and complete, and we’re still in hopes that I’ll be back in the saddle by
the first part of May.”