If anyone knows the risks that entail the sport of horse racing, it’s the jockeys. While the allure of the winner’s circle is definitely a strong pull, the bumpy ride (pun intended) the horses and their riders have to cross to get there can often also become a treacherous one. Thankfully, seasoned riders like Brian Hernandez Jr. will vouch that some crashes are easier to come to terms with than others. And now, it looks like another jockey just might have gotten his own share of the experience and live to tell the tale.

The Daily Racing Form‘s David Grening took to X on October 9 to share how Joel Rosario is taking his latest misfortune well. In the second race, a claiming allowance, at the Belmont at the Big A on Thursday, Rosario was on board Over and Ollie. The horse “stumbled at break, unseating Joel Rosario who went over the horse’s head and appeared to land on his back.” The scenes weren’t easy to digest. However, Grening’s latest post assures fans that the horse racing Hall of Famer isn’t in too bad a condition.

“X-rays negative for Joel Rosario who via text says “I’m good”,” the DRF correspondent revealed how they managed to get in touch with Rosario and got word that the veteran horse racing jockey isn’t in any physical danger after the crash. Over and Ollie made his top-flight debut at the Forego Stakes (Grade 1) in August, but only finished in a disappointing 10th place at Saratoga. Fans were hoping the 5-year-old colt would redeem himself at the optional race on Thursday, but, again, it wasn’t to be.

The Richard Dutrow Jr.-trained horse was in lane 6 at Belmont at the Big A. As soon as the gates opened, Over and Ollie stumbled, and Rosario was dislodged from his saddle and went over his equine partner’s head to hit the turf on his back. It wasn’t a pretty sight. However, maybe the 2013 Kentucky Derby-winning horse racing jockey’s experience clicked in, and he managed to minimize the shock of the impact.

Rosario was put on a backboard and was rushed to the hospital, where he was slated for medical examinations. As it would turn out, the jockey didn’t suffer anything major, and fans should believe he will be back in action soon. Then again, such hiccups are part and parcel of the job, and any horse racing connoisseur knows well that unforeseen accidents are an occupational hazard.

But Rosario should feel grateful at the end of the day. He didn’t suffer nearly as much as his colleague did last month.

The horse racing world isn’t for everyone

In the horse racing community, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. holds a special place. The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner was seated atop Sgt. Garcia for the $30,000 third race at Churchill Downs on September 21. At the 5/16th pole, the horse injured his leg and threw Hernandez off his back, who suffered seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a liver laceration. The horse had to be put down, and Hernandez Jr. was rushed to the hospital, where he went under the knife immediately.

“Jockey life isn’t for the faint of heart,” the jockey’s wife wrote in an emotional statement following the race. The surgery, thankfully, was successful, and Brian thanked his fans for their continued support. However, the accident has rendered him unavailable for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup showdown. But while the road to recovery is a long one, the feeling of finally getting back in the saddle is indeed a reward in itself.

Jockey Raul Mena broke 24 bones in his body in 2011 when his horse jumped the rail during a race in Chile. Looking back at the incident, Mena couldn’t help but remember how close he was to retire from horse racing altogether. However, his determination to get back to his natural habitat persevered, and he was among the stars who made the 150th Preakness Stakes this year a resounding success. While Mena and Pay Billy finished the race in eighth place, it was a testament to how jockeys go out of their way to pursue their love for the sport.

Do you reckon Joel Rosario will be able to do the same?