When the topic of sports injuries comes up, most people think of NFL quarterbacks' concussions, torn rotator cuffs on major league pitchers and the ravaged knees of professional basketball players. But those little people who straddle the backs of thoroughbreds? Not so much.
An injury that left horse-racing jockey Rene Douglas paralyzed and unable to walk may change that perception. The jockey filed a negligence suit against Arlington Park for what he claims was a dangerous track surface, the Chicago Daily Herald reported.
The Chicago accident attorney representing veteran jockey Rene Douglas was not quoted or named in the article. The Cook County suit names Arlington Park, corporate owner Churchill Downs and the makers of its Polytrack surface, Martin Collins Surfaces, as defendants.
Specifically, the four-count suit claims that the track was "uneven" and "filled with ruts," leading to what is likely a career-ending injury. The suit alleges negligence in both the installation and maintenance of the track.
During a race on May 23, 2009, a horse named Born to Be flipped and fell on top of Rene Douglas. Jockey Jamie Theriot was disciplined for allegedly clipping the heels of Born to Be with his horse, Sky Mom, immediately before the accident. He is not named in the suit.
A similar suit was filed against the same defendants earlier in the week by track worker Edward Seely, who claims a poorly maintained track led to an accident in May 2008. Edward Seely exercised horses and assisted in training activities.
He was not paralyzed, but sustained unspecified injuries after a fall on what he also claims was an "uneven" surface that was "filled with ruts."
If you were injured on what you believe was a poorly constructed or maintained surface that was another party's responsibility to keep safe, you may want to contact an Illinois injury attorney for advice.
Related Resources:
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Premises Liability - Overview (FindLaw)
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Horse-Riding Helmet Law Signed by Florida Governor (FindLaw's Injured Blog)
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Search Chicago Injury Lawyers (FindLaw)
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