Horse racing notes: Jockey Zack Ziegler making slow progress after accident in Columbus
Jockey Zack Ziegler remains hospitalized following a serious spill Sept. 30 at Agricultural Park in Columbus, but the rider is making progress.
His spouse Carrie Robb said Friday that Ziegler has been moved from a Lincoln hospital to the CHI Health facility in Grand Island. That will allow him to be closer to his family.
“He’s in acute rehab,” Robb said. “He’s still having a lot of balance issues and needs assistance walking.”
The 35-year-old was riding a horse named After Burn when the gelding clipped heels with another horse. After Burn fell directly on the rider, rolled back onto him trying to get up and stepped on the back of Ziegler’s neck.
He was airlifted to the Lincoln Trauma Center and underwent surgery to repair a brain bleed. Additional trauma included back and facial fractures.
Robb said Ziegler is no longer on a ventilator, which is a major step forward.
“He still has a lot of cognitive issues,” she said. “But it’s come as a surprise to the nurses that he’s been recovering so well.”
Ziegler, the father of four, rode in 86 races this past spring at Grand Island’s Fonner Park. The South Dakota native has been riding throughout the Midwest for 13 years and has 193 career wins in 1,814 starts.
As of Saturday, a GoFundMe page established by Robb had raised $18,526 toward a goal of $20,000. Money also is being raised through the sale of T-shirts and sweatshirts with a Z3 logo for Zachary Zane Ziegler.
“He does not remember the accident,” Robb said. “But I can’t say enough about the huge amount of support we’ve received, not just from friends but from people we don’t even know.”
Unexpected finish
Morning Addiction’s recent win in a claiming race at Golden Gate Fields in suburban San Francisco was one for the books.
The 6-year-old mare sprinted to a long early lead before unexpectedly dropping to last in the 5½-furlong race. Bewildered track announcer Matt Dinerman said during the race “I don’t know what happened there.”
Morning Addiction came on again in deep stretch to split rivals and win a photo finish by a head. It was her seventh victory in 19 starts.
The race can be found on YouTube with the slug “First to last to first?!”
Expensive stud fees
Two Kentucky farms — Hill ‘n’ Dale and Gainesway — have announced stud fees for the 2024 breeding season.
Hill ‘n’ Dale stalwart Curlin, considered one of the most prominent sires at stud today, will command a $250,000 fee. He has sired five Grade 1 winners this year.
Curlin’s son Good Magic, sire of Kentucky Derby champion Mage, will stand for a fee of $125,000.
Leading the way at Gainesway is Tapit, who will stand for $185,000. The son of Pulpit sired recent standouts Flightline and Tapit Trice.
Halloween special
Fans looking for a horse to watch during this Halloween month could be drawn to Three Witches, recent winner of the $200,000 Princess Rooney Stakes at Florida’s Gulfstream Park.
The seven-furlong race for fillies and mares was a designated “Win and You’re In” race for the $1 million Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 4.
Sent off at 10-1 odds, the 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief posted her first stakes victory.
Secret Oath retired
Secret Oath, winner of the 2022 Kentucky Oaks, has been retired.
Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the filly will bypass the Breeders Cup Distaff and enter the Fasig-Tipton breeding-stock auction Nov. 7 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Secret Oath was the second betting choice in the 2022 Preakness and finished fourth.
The 4-year-old by Arrogate has won one race since her Oaks triumph at Churchill Downs. She has finished second five times since winning a stakes race in March at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
Dettori changes mind
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori apparently isn’t ready to retire.
The 52-year-old announced earlier this year that he would retire following the Breeders Cup in November. He recently said that he’s not quite ready for that day and will continue riding.
He plans to ride at California’s Santa Anita racetrack through the end of the year before deciding where he might ride next.
Jockey retires at 24
Jessica Pyfer, the 2021 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice jockey, has announced her retirement from riding to work full time as a racing analyst at Santa Anita.
The 24-year-old announced her career change on Twitter. She is the stepdaughter of leading Southern California trainer Phil D’Amato.
Pyfer started riding in the fall of 2020 and rode as an apprentice until last November. During her Eclipse Award-winning season, she won 59 races and earned purses of $2.8 million.
Turf Paradise update
While Arizona horsemen remain skeptical, the new buyer of Turf Paradise racetrack in Arizona hopes to complete the deal in the next two months and hold a live meet at the start of 2024.
The proposed sale has been shrouded in mystery since being announced in late September.
At a recent meeting of the Arizona Racing Commission, no representatives from the buying group appeared to speak about plans to keeping racing alive at the track in suburban Phoenix.
Track owner Jerry Simms said the deal is very close to coming together.
