KINGSTON, Jamaica - Rising apprentice jockey Tajay Suckoo will be sidelined for a minimum of five weeks after suffering a fractured ankle in a fall during morning exercises.
Suckoo, currently ranked fifth in the jockey championship, was aboard a two-year-old when the incident occurred two Saturdays ago. As he neared the six-furlong post, his mount reacted suddenly upon seeing another horse lying on the ground. The startled ‘bronco’ bolted towards the inside rail, unseating Suckoo in the process.
The injured rider was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where medical personnel determined the extent of the injury. “It took a long time, a really long time for the medical team to attend to me,” Suckoo shared. “After several tests, they confirmed that I had fractured my ankle and placed it in a cast. The doctor advised that I return in five weeks for reassessment.”
Reflecting on the incident, Suckoo admitted that the experience was painful but accepted it as part of a jockey’s reality. “Yes, it was painful, very painful. The pain eased somewhat after treatment and painkillers, but even now it’s still uncomfortable. As jockeys, we know these things can happen, and we just have to deal with them.”
With a mandatory period of rest ahead, the talented young rider will now focus on his recovery before making his return to competitive racing.
