Injured Jockey Begins Recovery Process

The Jockey injured at Golden Gate Fields race track is reportedly responding well to medical care. Michael Martinez was severely injured during a race on Sunday, severing his spinal cord in the process. Martinez is now paralyzed from the waist down, but has become more alert now that doctors have eased off a bit with his sedation medication. According to reports, Martinez answered questions and asked his wife if he could go home on Tuesday.

Martinez had a tube in his right lung removed recently; doctors were hoping to remove the tube in his left lung today. He has been completely removed from the breathing machine as well.

This is the sad side of horse racing. The potential for injury is very high, and injuries are always a possibility when dealing with skittish thoroughbreds. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Martinez family.