Terrifying moment jockey Abel Lezcano clings on for dear life after his stirrup breaks in the middle of a race in Chicago… but he somehow manages to stay aboard his horse
The terrifying moment when jockey Abel Lezcano clings on for life after his stirrup breaks during a race in Chicago…but he somehow manages to stay aboard his horse
- Abel Lezcano raced Christmas Present at Hawthorne Race Course in Illinois
- The jockey lost his right stirrup early in the race, but somehow kept riding
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Abel Lezcano showed remarkable strength and courage to avoid falling off his horse after the jockey’s stirrup broke midway through a race near Chicago on Sunday.
The Panama native – who has already survived a kidney transplant – battled for the lead atop Christmas Present in race three at Hawthorne on Sunday. But disaster struck early in the one-mile, 70-meter race.
Frightening footage shows the jockey suddenly sinking to the right side of the horse after losing his iron. Soon, Lezcano virtually disappears from view of the television cameras as he falls to the ground.
But as Christmas Present gallops through the left turn, the jockey somehow manages to hold on.
A front camera shows the jockey horizontal on the sand, holding the horse’s neck and being flung up and down as one of his rivals watches from the saddle.
Abel Lezcano (L) was battling for the lead atop Christmas Present when disaster struck
Suddenly the jockey’s stirrup snapped and he almost sank out of view of the television cameras
Somehow, after about 10 seconds of panic, the jockey manages to get to his feet and return to the saddle. For a while, Lezcano rode around the track bareback.
Unfortunately, the damage to his stirrup prevented Christmas Present and Lezcano from finishing the race – the horse was pulled up and High Brow took the win.
“Thank God I’m only in pain, but I’m glad I didn’t fall or hurt anyone. By the grace of the lord I am here and will continue to work hard,” the jockey continued social media.
Christmas Present had secured a lead over its rivals early on and was on the clubhouse lap and battling Blooming Garden for the lead.
Miraculously, Lezcano managed to cling to the horse as it continued to gallop across the sand
Somehow, after about 10 seconds of panic, the jockey managed to prop himself up
But then he told the Paulick report, Lezcano heard a ‘loud bang’. Reportedly, he had only just purchased the equipment.
The incident puzzled the track announcer, who is reported to have said, “The rider is out of the saddle, but is still with the horse… a bit confusing, I didn’t see him.” I thought he was gone, but he was going on.’
He later praised the jockey’s efforts, adding, “Just a great job from Abel Lezcano to stay aboard that horse.”
Lezcano recovered to take the next four races on Sunday, even winning the final aboard Maneuver.