David Seftel, the Golden Gate Fields track physician, is trying to
expedite Michael Martinez’s request for permanent residency so the
paralyzed jockey can be admitted into a special stem-cell treatment
program in Switzerland. Seftel said over the weekend that Martinez has
only about two weeks to be admitted into the program for the treatment
to be most effective.
Martinez, a 24-year-old citizen of Panama, was paralyzed in a Sept. 12,
2010, racing spill at Golden Gate Fields. Without permanent residency
status, Martinez would not be allowed to return to the United States if
he left for the treatment.
Read More