Trainer Romans recovering after Derby-night car accident

Trainer Dale Romans was at home Sunday afternoon recovering from pulled rib muscles after being involved in a serious car accident following the Kentucky Derby on Saturday night.

According to Tammy Fox, assistant and longtime partner to Romans, the Eclipse Award-winning conditioner had just dropped off an owner at the Galt House and was picking up friends at the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Longfield Avenue when an SUV on Southern Parkway ran a stop sign at Evelyn Avenue. Romans’ car hit the SUV, then was pushed over to another lane where a truck T-boned his vehicle on the right side.

Fox said three of the passengers were still in the hospital, one with a broken pelvis, one with cracked ribs and another with fractured vertebrae. Another passenger was treated and released from the hospital with mostly body soreness.

Romans saddled Brody’s Cause to a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

“There wasn’t any blood on any of them,” Fox said. “They had to cut the (seat) belts off of some of the people. They’re just lucky. As bad as it was, it could have been a lot worse.

“You know, they say the two worst holidays in Kentucky are Derby and New Year’s Eve.”

Romans will take the next several days off as he recovers. He is likely to have Cherry Wine pointed for a start in the Preakness Stakes on May 21.

This story was originally published May 8, 2016 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Trainer Romans recovering after Derby-night car accident."