Jockey Jose Flores fighting for life after Parx spill
Jockey Jose Flores aboard Discreet Lover. Photo by Dottie Miller.
by Frank Vespe
Journeyman jockey Jose Flores was on life support Tuesday morning, the Daily Racing Form reports, following a spill in Monday’s ninth race at Parx Racing. Flores was at Philadelphia’s Aria Jefferson Torresdale Hospital.
Parx Racing canceled its Tuesday card because of Flores’ condition. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Hall of Fame jockey Jose Flores and his family,” the track said via Twitter.
Racing today at Parx Racing has been canceled due to circumstances from yesterday's 9th race. Our thoughts and prayers are with Hall of Fame jockey Jose Flores and his family.
— Parx Racing (@parxracing) March 20, 2018
Flores was aboard a longshot, Love Rules, in a six-furlong starter allowance when his mount “went bad suddenly and fell leaving the three eighths marker,” according to the official chart.
That triggered a series of events in which Easy River lost his rider trying to avoid his fallen rival and The Pooch fell over Love Rules. Two other horses, Blue Marauder and Play It Again, swerved to avoid the accident and ultimately were eased. Love Rules had to be euthanized, but the other horses were reportedly fine.
Flores, 56, has won 4,650 races with purse earnings in excess of $64 million. His most recent victory came March 13, when he steered Apolodorodedamasco to a win in a claiming race at Parx Racing for trainer Carl Doran. Flores has finished in the top 100 nationally for wins 10 times and nine times by earnings since 2000.
Godspeed Mr. Flores. To be riding at age 56 (my age), you must really love your vocation!
That said, would it be fair to say that most jockeys have retired from competitive racing by age 50?
A Clint Eastwood movie character said it best: “A man’s got to know his limitations”
Really, David? Man fighting for his life and you crack a tired, over used; movie cliche?
Point taken. In that light I regret.
Still, I welcome any insight about how long jockey careers usually last. Thanks in advance for any input.
Most jocks are retired by 56, David, but certainly not all. Tony Black, at Philly/Parx, rode into his 60s, for example.
Thanks.
I will log in at https://pdjf.org/donate.php