Jockey Julie Krone, who returned to racing just last week following surgery to repair an ankle shattered in a spill, apparently escaped serious injury Friday when her horse broke down during a race.
Krone, winner of the 1993 Belmont Stakes and Gulfstream Park's leading jockey at the time of the accident, was taken to Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, where she was in fair condition.Her injuries were described by her agent, Larry Cooper, as a possible hairline fracture of the left wrist, a possible broken finger on her left hand and a bruised right hand.
Three other riders - Dave Penna, Heberto Castillo Jr. and Katy Sweeney - also fell but were unhurt and rode again later in the day.
Krone, the only woman jockey to win a Triple Crown race, severely fractured her right ankle in a three-horse spill at Saratoga on Aug. 30, 1993. She resumed riding last May but was sidelined again in the fall when she required further surgery to remove two plates and 13 screws from her ankle.
Though walking with a limp, the 31-year-old Krone returned on Jan. 4 at Gulfstream and won the day's feature race.
On Friday, Krone was aboard Saratoga Source, the 3-1 second choice in a $40,000, 1 1/2-mile grass race. Turning for home, Saratoga Source was in fourth and running well when she broke down and fell at the three-sixteenths pole with a shattered left front leg.
Krone hit the ground hard, rolled twice and appeared to be struck by a trailing horse, Mrs. Marcos.