Exercise rider dies after spill

Associated Press

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — An exercise rider for trainer Steve Asmussen died Tuesday after being injured in a riding accident at Saratoga Race Course the previous day.

Asmussen told the Daily Racing Form that Parker Buckley, 40, suffered a head injury when he was unseated from a horse he was galloping on the Oklahoma training track.

Buckley a former jockey, was taken to Albany Medical Center, where he was placed in a medically induced coma. Medical staff waited until his family could arrive before taking him off life support.

Oaklawn adds two stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Oaklawn Park has added two new stakes races for its 2009 season and changed the dates for some of its other events.

Both new stakes are for older Arkansas-bred sprinters, the $50,000 Natural State Breeders' for females on March 27 and the $50,000 Nodouble Breeders' for males on March 29.

The 6-furlong, $50,000 Mountain Valley Stakes for 3-year-olds will be run Feb. 28, a week later than 2008. The $50,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older filly and mare sprinters will move up a week to the Mountain Valley's prior spot.