Photo: NYRA
Ramon Dominguez visited Aqueduct Racetrack on
Sunday for the first time since being injured in a spill at the track on
January 18.
Dominguez,
New York’s leading rider
2009-2012, spent time in the jockeys’ room and talked with members of
the press, racing officials, valets, and other riders.
“I’ve been thinking about coming to say ‘hello,’ but I just
haven’t been able to find the time,” said the three-time reigning
Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey
who suffered a fractured skull in the incident. “It was great seeing my
valet, all the other valets, and my friends. Everyone is happy to see
me, and [I’m happy] to see them as well.”
Dominguez, 36, said he’ll have a better idea of when he might be able to resume riding after a doctor’s appointment on March 25.
“I’m pretty optimistic that he will find me good enough to come
back,” said Dominguez. “From that point on, if he OKs me, it will just
be a matter of getting fit again,
and that shouldn’t take too long. I’m speculating, but it depends on
what they say, and on the 25th we’ll see.”
The rider added that he is progressing well with his physical therapy regimens.
“Unless they’re lying to me, everyone is happy not only with my
condition but with the progress I’ve made in a short period of time,”
said Dominguez. “In the beginning,
I felt like, ‘I’m OK! I don’t need this!’ but right away I realized I
was getting a lot of help from all of the different types of exercises.”
Dominguez said that he has tried to limit his race watching so that he’ll remain patient as he makes a steady recovery.
“I miss [riding] a lot, but the truth is that I’ve tried not to
follow or watch too many races,” said Dominguez. “I’ve probably watched
enough races to put on one hand
just because I don’t want to get too excited. I’ve tried to do
everything by the book and listen to the doctor, so I’m definitely
excited to come back soon.”