Kentucky Derby-winning jockey gives injury update after scary fall
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. suffered serious injuries after falling from his mount.
- Hernandez fell during a race at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
- Hernandez won both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in 2024 at Churchill Downs.
A Kentucky Derby-winning jockey is on the mend after suffering serious injuries during a race at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. — who in 2024 won the 150th editions of both the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna and Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan — was thrown from his horse during the third race of Sunday’s card at Churchill. Hernandez was aboard Sgt. Garcia when the horse was bumped near the start of a race on the main dirt track, before the horse then suffered an injury to one of its front legs and dislodged Hernandez.
The race occurred on a main track that was listed as sloppy and sealed.
It was quickly apparent that Hernandez had suffered serious injuries as a result of the spill. His wife, Jamie, posted on social media Sunday night that Hernandez suffered seven fractured ribs, a punctured lung, a lacerated liver and internal bleeding as a result of the incident, which required Hernandez to be taken to the intensive care unit at the University of Louisville Hospital.
On Tuesday evening, Hernandez provided his own social media update, saying he underwent a successful surgery to stabilize his ribs.
“I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers!” Hernandez’s post read. “The doctors and nurses here at UofL have been absolutely fantastic. Hopefully one step closer to going home. Many thanks.”
That post included a photo of Hernandez wearing a hat bearing the name of Thorpedo Anna, the 2024 Horse of the Year.
A Wednesday afternoon update from Churchill Downs said Hernandez is expected to return home in the coming days.
Kenny McPeek — who trained both Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan — was also the trainer for Sgt. Garcia. McPeek told BloodHorse that Sgt. Garcia was euthanized. A report by The Paulick Report said Sgt. Garcia sustained a compound fracture in the left foreleg.
Hernandez’s injuries will keep him away from the track in the coming weeks. He had several notable mounts scheduled, including aboard Mystik Dan in the Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs and aboard Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1, $650,000 Spinster Stakes on Oct. 5 as part of Keeneland’s opening weekend.
A replacement rider for Mystik Dan hasn’t yet been named. Mystik Dan is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the Lukas Classic, which will go off at 5:29 p.m. Saturday.
According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, Hernandez said doctors expect him to be away from racing for six to eight weeks. This timeline means Hernandez is a serious doubt to ride in the Breeders’ Cup, which is set for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Del Mar in California.
Also based on this timeline, Hernandez, a Louisiana native, is set to miss the entirety of Keeneland’s Fall Meet, which runs from Oct. 3-25 at the Lexington track.
Hernandez won this year’s running of the Blue Grass Stakes — Keeneland’s signature Kentucky Derby prep race — aboard Burnham Square in April. He piloted Burnham Square to a sixth-place finish in this year’s Derby.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 5:45 AM.
