Fan-favorite jockey Chuck C. Lopez is currently recovering
from a broken T7 vertebrae he suffered in a spill on March 12 at Aqueduct, but
is nearing a return.
The 49-year-old Monmouth
Park mainstay says he’s
hoping to be back on the track by the end of this week.
“Physical therapy is going great,” Lopez said. “If everything goes according to
plan, I hope to be back riding on Friday.”
Lopez finished eighth in the 2009 Monmouth
Park jockey standings and
was having a very successful winter and spring at Aqueduct before his injury.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to riding,” Lopez said. “It’s been
tough sitting at home watching this new meet, and I’m really looking forward to
be able to be a part of it.”
Lopez captured the riding title at Monmouth
Park in 1998.