Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze fractured his left collarbone when he went
down in the 3RD race at Golden Gate Fields on Wednesday.
Baze was thrown to the track when his mount, COWBOY BADGETT (Bold Badgett),
fractured his left front ankle and fell at the quarter-pole. Cowboy Badgett was
challenging front runner and eventual winner Swiss Steak (Swiss Yodeler) for the
lead when he broke down.
Baze was taken to Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, California, for X-rays.
“He sustained a complete fracture of the left collarbone,” said Dr. David
Seftel, track physician at Golden Gate Fields. “He may have some rib fractures
on the left side. He also has a contusion on his right forehead, bruising of his
hips and pain in his left ankle.”
Dr. Seftel said Baze will be sidelined four to eight weeks.
The injury comes at a bad time for Baze, who was scheduled to ride the
undefeated LOST IN THE FOG (Lost Soldier) in Saturday’s $200,000 Riva Ridge
Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) at Belmont Park.
It is the second fractured collarbone in 18 months for Baze, who broke his
right collarbone on November 30, 2003. Baze was sidelined for eight weeks due to
that injury.
Baze, 46, is the second winningest jockey in Thoroughbred racing history with
9,010 victories. He earned his 9,000th win last Thursday at Golden Gate Fields.
Cowboy Badgett, a three-year-old gelding, had to be euthanized.