Kudos to two apprentice jocks; updated - injury

[Glimmerglass]

I didn’t get to see the rides until this morning, but it was nice to see two apprentice riders breaking their respective maidens on Friday.

At Tampa Bay Downs Mike Straight - a native of Saratoga Springs, NY and a recent grad of Chris McCarron’s North American Racing Academy in his first career start found victory! It was the 6th race, March 6, aboard Ready Ruler (breaking from the 8th PP) took the win. Nice job!

The payoff: $54.80 for the $2 win wager.

At Aqueduct it was Andria Terrill just 26-yrs old and making her 13th start who found her first win aboard Wild Holly in the 5th race. Per NYRA the win was most unlikely: as Wild Holly (8-yr old mare) had lost her last three by a combined total of 54 ½ lengths!

The Terrill name is no stranger to New York racing fans. Her great uncle is the retired trainer Bill “Red” Terrill, conditioner of Turnback the Alarm, who won two jewels of New York’s Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies in 1992, the Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks.

After gaining experience walking hots for trainer Stanley Hough, Andria Terrill decided she wanted to ride and followed the advice of her uncle and horse van operator Billy Terrill to head down to Ocala.

“I was riding babies in Ocala, learned a lot, got balanced, got strong,” she said, as jockeys, valets and other well-wishers stopped by to congratulate her on what she hopes will be the first of many wins.

The payoff: $131.00 for the $2 win wager.

Congrats to both riders!

[Glimmerglass]

From the racing media: TB Times Mar 6, 2009 “Apprentice Straight wins first career race”

Straight is the second Straight twin to attend retired Racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron’s North American Racing Academy in Lexington. His brother, Matt Straight, graduated from the first class in 2008. Matt Straight earned his first career win on July 20 at Ellis Park with his 20th mount. He has since won 50 more races and is currently riding at Laurel Park.

Mike Straight grew up in East Greenbush, New York, and frequented Saratoga Race Course with his brother as children. He is the first member of the racing academy’s second class to compete in and win a race.

Three of eight racing academy graduates from the first class have earned their first career victories and four overall have competed in races.

NY Daily News Mar 7, 2009 “The Day at the Races”

After two days of spills and fatalities it was nice to finally see someone smile at Aqueduct.

Apprentice jockey Andria Terrill was the one wearing that smile, from ear to ear, after bringing home her first ever winner, taking the fifth race on longshot Wild Holly ($131).

“I’m numb, never expected it,” Terrill said after enduring the first-win ritual hazing by her fellow jockeys, a baptism of buckets of water, talcum powder and raw eggs. “Maybe that helped, kept me from getting too excited.”

Racing in last, Wild Holly rallied from seventh down the center of the track to score by three lengths going away.

[solargal]

I was wondering where Mike was since I didn’t see him the last few mornings. He’s been working hard and excited to get riding. Congrats.

[Glimmerglass]

Thoughts and prayers for Mike Straight and his family after yesterday’s spill at Arlington Park …

DRF 8-27-09 “Apprentice Michael Straight may be paralyzed” - excerpt

Straight, 24, was injured in the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race when his mount, Im No Gentleman, fell suddenly when appearing to clip the heels of Conte Ridge nearing the quarter pole. Im No Gentleman, a 3-year-old gelding bred and owned by Jay Collier and trained by Clayton Pierce, was racing near the back of the pack of the $10,000 maidens when the spill occurred. Im No Gentleman died as a result of the accident. There were no other horses or jockeys seriously injured.

It was initially feared that Straight might have suffered major head or brain trauma, but by Thursday morning, doctors were optimistic that was not the case, according to the friend. Straight was scheduled to undergo surgery and further evaluation of his spinal condition Thursday morning. The initial prognosis was that Straight would continue to have use of his upper body.

[Barnfairy]

That would make me sad no matter who it is, but this seems especially so because he was at the start of things…

[spooky01]

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4335156]
That would make me sad no matter who it is, but this seems especially so because he was at the start of things…[/QUOTE]

Your so right! Sending jingles and prayers their way

[YoTambien]

Very sad to hear - my thoughts and prayers for Mr. Straight and his family.

[Glimmerglass]

An update from this afternoon …

DRF 8-28-09 “Straight family optimistic after surgery”

Matthew Straight, speaking on behalf of his family, issued a media release Friday morning that said surgeons at Luthern General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., had operated on his brother to attempt to stabilize his spinal injuries, which include four fractured vertebrae. Fear persists that Michael Straight, 23, might be paralyzed from the waist down, but his brother made no mention of the long-term implications of the injuries.

“The doctors said it could not have gone any better,” Matthew Straight said in the release. “We know there is still a long way to go, and now it’s just a waiting game to see how good and how quick he heals up. We know it’s going to be a long road back and we’re not going anywhere.”

Matthew Straight said he and his parents appreciated the outpouring of support in the aftermath of the incident and asked that the family’s privacy be respected. “When we feel it is the appropriate time to talk more publicly, we will do so,” said Straight, adding the family would issue periodic updates through the Arlington media-relations office.

[Glimmerglass]

Big props for stepping up to help another jockey - Travers jockeys establish fund to help Straight

The seven jockeys scheduled to ride in Saturday’s $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes at Saratoga have pledged to donate 10 percent of their earnings to establish a fund for jockey Michael Straight, who suffered critical spinal injuries in a Wednesday spill at Arlington Park.

The fund will be set up through the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, whose mission is to assist injured and disabled riders.

“This was an easy decision,” said John Velazquez, chairman of the Jockeys’ Guild and rider of Travers morning-line favorite Quality Road. “What happened to Michael is a tragedy and we want to do whatever we can to help support him and his family during this difficult time.”

[Glimmerglass]

From Matthew in response to his injured brother Michael:

Straight said his brother still has no feeling in his lower body, but reported that until swelling around the spine goes down, the East Greenbush family is holding out hope for further recovery.

“He is responding to commands and shakes his head “Yes” and “No” when responding to questions, and holds up fingers when asked,” Straight’s statement read.

Matthew announced he will ride a horse at Arlington Park on Saturday in honor of fundraising efforts to help his seriously-injured twin brother, Michael.

Matthew is named to ride SMILE Stable’s More Than Able in Saturday’s (Sep 5) 4th race at Arlington Park, a 1 1/16-mile turf race. The Jan Ely-trained horse had been ridden by Michael Straight in his previous four starts, including a victory on June 7.

“With the national fundraising effort for Mike taking place that day, I really wanted to be able to be part of it and ride a horse,” Matthew Straight said in a statement released through Arlington Park. “This horse is one that Mike had been riding and won on. It would really be great to win one for Mike that day.”

The press release:

Jockeys throughout the U.S. and Canada will exhibit their unified show of support for apprentice jockey Michael Straight this Saturday.

Straight was critically injured in a race at Arlington Park on August 26.

Jockeys across the nation are being asked to donate one mount fee Saturday to the Don MacBeth Memorial Fund earmarked for Michael Straight to help defray costs of his long-term needs. They will also be riding with two patches on their boots, one in honor of Michael Straight and the other paying tribute to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) which currently aids 60 permanently disabled jockeys.
.
Straight, a native of East Greenbush, New York, graduated from Chris McCarron’s North American Racing Academy in 2008 and has 39 winners from 372 races.

“We appreciate the generosity of the jockeys, racetracks and fans throughout the country,” said John Velazquez, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jockeys’ Guild. "We think it is important that those who love the sport of racing show support for Michael at this critical time. We are in his corner.

“As jockeys, we want to do our part for those in racing that have been less fortunate,” said jockey Robby Albarado, Member of the Board of Directors of the Jockeys’ Guild.

“The racing industry needs to come together to take care of our own, be they jockeys, exercise riders, grooms or hotwalkers. All those involved in racing,” jockey Mike Smith, a member of the Jockeys’ Guild Senate, added.

From the Chicago Daily Herald (Southside) 9-3-09

While contributions for Straight are to be directed to the MacBeth Fund in his name, permanently disabled jockeys depend on the PDJF for assistance.

Contributions to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockeys Fund earmarked for Michael Straight should be sent to P.O. Box 18470, Encino, CA 91416. For more information on the MacBeth fund, visit www.macbethfund.org.

Donations to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund should be sent to P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, IL 60126 or online contributions can be made at www.pdjf.org

[spooky01]

Kudos to the jocks, valets and starters at Suffolk Downs!! They all just donated a total of almost $1500 to Mike. Many know him from Tampa but many do not.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4351784]
Matthew is named to ride SMILE Stable’s More Than Able in Saturday’s (Sep 5) 4th race at Arlington Park, a 1 1/16-mile turf race. The Jan Ely-trained horse had been ridden by Michael Straight in his previous four starts, including a victory on June 7. [/QUOTE]

Matthew took 3rd aboard “More Than Able” in the 4th at Arlington Park (9-5)

Brisnet Sep 5, 2009

“Mike is completely off the sedatives and the doctors are expecting to remove the ventilator today or tomorrow,” Matthew Straight said. "Once he’s able to communicate with us, it will make everything a lot better. He’s still fighting.

Arlington’s jockeys all donated a losing mount fee to the fund and participated in a day-long autograph signing session that earned $5,000 for the fund.

[Glimmerglass]

Some very good news …

BloodHorse Jan 6, 2010 “Injured Straight Has Movement in His Toes”

Straight (24), who has been unable to move his legs since the accident, had experienced muscle spasms from the knee down in his legs, but said this was the first case of isolated movement in his feet.

“Just seeing those toes move was unbelievable,” Straight said. “I had to do a double take.”

Straight moved to Jacksonville, Fla., with his parents on Dec. 17. He had been recovering from the accident and subsequent surgery (during which doctors inserted a flexible rod into his spine) at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, but decided to pursue outpatient therapy at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Florida, near the home of his aunt. The outpatient therapy will begin on Jan. 8.

The 24-year-old posted news of the movement on his Facebook profile on Jan. 5:

Straight said the response to his post was overwhelming.

“I had so many messages this morning it was incredible,” he said. “So many people responded and have supported me from the start. I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to wish me well and let me know they’re thinking of me and praying for me. I look at the Michael Straight get well card and for someone to create that for me, in my mind, is just out of this world. To know that so many people are behind me is an amazing feeling.”

[farmgirl88]

that is great news! any movement in the legs after an injury like that is great news, even if it is just uncontrolled muscle spasms. At least they know now that nerve impulses and energy (ATP) are and can tavel down the nerve endings to his legs to create those twitches. The opening and closing of those sodium ion channels within the muscle fibers allow for the muscle to move through a variety of proceses. when you are paralysed from the waist down, those nerve impulses that help those sodium ion channels open and close to create muscle movement and contraction, cannot reach the location in the legs due to a nerve or spinal injury. It is tremendously great news that his body is showing signs of healing.