Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

The Day at the Races

January 23, 2010

Cruel and brutal are words often used by less enlightened people when describing horse racing. It's a tough sport, but it is also one of the most compassionate.

Jockey Richard Migliore showed it Saturday after being involved in a frightening spill during the first race.

The soon-to-be 46-year-old got to his hands and knees and crawled over to comfort his fallen mount, Honest Wildcat, who suffered a fracture to his right front leg.

Petting the fallen animal's neck in his dirt-covered silks, Migliore stayed with the horse until the EMS staff arrived, placing the jockey on a stretcher and taking him to North Shore University Hospital.

Honest Wildcat was taken off the track on the equine ambulance with a splint placed on his injured limb, but sadly was put down.

The jockey complained of head pain and blurred vision. Initial X-rays came back negative but he was diagnosed with a concussion, although he was released from the hospital.

We're sure he'll make it back. No one is tougher than "The Mig," who was almost killed in a spill at Belmont in 1988 and has suffered many other broken bones along the way.

But besides being tough, Migliore showed he's one of the kindest people, too.