Leading rider Radke out for the season
September 8, 2008 · Updated 8:56 AM
Jockey Kevin Radke, the leading rider at the meet with 100 wins, will miss the final three weeks of the season due to three broken ribs he sustained in a Thursday evening spill at Emerald Downs.
Radke, 36, also complained of a sore chest and a sore left knee, and said he would return to his hometown of Cleveland to recuperate.
Radke and Tropic Gem were leading the six-furlong sixth race when the 3-year-old gelding suffered a catastrophic leg injury midway on the turn, sending the jockey hard to the ground. He was taken by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
“Overall, I was pretty lucky,” Radke said. “I’m upset I can’t ride the Washington Cup (Sept. 14) and finish the meet, but I wouldn’t be a hundred percent, and that wouldn’t be fair to the owners and trainers.”
Radke moved into first place in the standings on June 19 and was on pace for his third riding title at Emerald Downs. He rode his 1,000th career winner, Biddynthechief, on June 7, and he rode five winners on June 8. He recorded stakes triumphs on Victorina in the Washington State Legislators Stakes and Firetrail in the King County Handicap.
With Radke out of action, Seth Martinez and two-time defending champion Ricky Frazier will vie for the riding title. With 14 days left, Frazier owned a 96-95 lead over Martinez.
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