Santos recovering from February spill

Jockey Jose Santos is in New York and still recovering from injures suffered

in a three-horse spill at Aqueduct on February 1. Initially, his injuries were

listed as three damaged thoracic vertebrae, a fractured sternum and a broken

nose.

"Once the swelling went down, they discovered that I damaged five vertebrae

instead of three," Santos said Wednesday morning. "The T-5, T-6 and T-9

vertebrae are compressed; the real problem is the T-7 and T-8 because they are

pressing on the spinal cord.

"I have to go back to the doctor on March 19, and we'll see where we're at.

We've been trying to avoid surgery, but I don't know if that is still possible.

I have to wear a brace, and I only take it off when I go to sleep. It is still

painful. The swelling and the pain in my chest is all gone and my nose looks

normal. You could only tell it was broken if you touched it."

Santos, 45, spent eight days at North Shore University Hospital following the

incident. The Eclipse Award-winning jockey guided Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) to

victories in the 2003 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1), and has earned

more than 4,000 career victories.