Injury sidelines champion jockey
Published:Thursday | December 30, 2021 | 12:10 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
COREY GRANT, agent of champion jockey Anthony ‘AT’ Thomas, said his charge will be out of action for another two weeks due to injuries he sustained after a fall at Caymanas Park on Sunday, December 26.
Thomas fell from his mount SHEBOM at the start of the sixth race and was quickly taken to hospital where it was revealed he had sustained minor injuries to his neck and shoulder.
“These injuries are not serious and so it is like soreness in the neck because there are no broken bones. X-rays came back negative and so we are very happy about that,” said Grant.
“He will be getting some much-needed rest at this time because AT is the only the jockey that comes to the track at 5 o’clock every morning for 365 days for the year, and out of the top 10 jockeys, he is the last one to leave the track. So he needs this period of rest,” he said.
“AT is a very disciplined and committed person, who always strives for the best in whatever he is doing, and I am sure with this rest that he is getting now, he will return a lot fresher and fitter in the new year,” Grant said.
OVER 400 WINS
Thomas, 29, who began riding at Caymanas Park in 2015; has won over 400 races in his career so far. He won 112 races from 493 mounts to claim his third jockey’s championship in four years this season.
According to Grant, Thomas’ hard work and dedication to the sport has seen him rising to becoming one of the best jockeys at Caymanas Park in the last decade. He noted that the soft-spoken Thomas is delighted for the support that he has received from all the stakeholders in the industry.
“I am very happy because I achieved what I set out to accomplish this year, which is to win 100 races with one jockey because I have never done it before, and so this is a massive feat for me and the team,” said Grant.
“I just want to thank the owners, trainers and grooms and all the stakeholders in the fraternity who really supported us through this year and the years before, and we are looking forward to their support in the years to come,” he said.