Jockey Alan Garcia, who was kicked in the paddock before Saturday’s
third race at Belmont Park, has been released from North Shore
University Hospital
and hopes to ride next week according to his agent, Ron Anderson.
Garcia, 25, sustained a bruised right thigh after being kicked in the
paddock by his mount
Wanstead, a 4-year-old
gelding trained by Seth Benzel. He was transported to North
Shore, where X-rays were negative,
according to Anderson.
A native of Peru,
Garcia came into Saturday tied for 11th in the Belmont Park
jockey standings with 13 wins. He has won four riding titles in New York, including
leading jockey during the 2008 Saratoga Race Course meet with 39 wins. The
biggest victory of his career came aboard 38-1 longshot Da’ Tara in the
2008 Belmont Stakes, foiling Big Brown’s Triple Crown bid.