Martinez critical after fall.

We forget how dangerous this game can be at times.

Racing Post
Martinez 'very critical' after Golden Gate fall

USA: Jockey Michael Martinez, second in the Golden Gate Fields standings this summer, is in "very critical" condition after severing his spinal cord in a fall on Sunday.

According to the Daily Racing Form, 24-year-old Martinez underwent nearly 11 hours of emergency surgery at an Oakland hospital after the incident.

Martinez is also suffering from bleeding in his head and into his lungs, said track physician David Seftel.

The jockey, 13th in the national standings with 168 winners, was unseated in a 5f claimer when the favourite Fair 'n Warmer clipped heels.

Yes. it is easy to sit here and be grandstand or even computer jockeys, but things like this are sobering.

It doesn't sound promising, but let's hope he pulls through.

A close friend of mine who I rode in Mauritius with in '07 also had a bad fall last month and is certain he will not ride again. Danny Brereton also damaged his spinal chord and has had vertebral surgery. Heres the story:

JOCKEY Danny Brereton has almost certainly ridden in his last race after confirmation yesterday that he suffered spinal-cord damage and is struggling to regain full movement following a horror fall at Moonee Valley.

Brereton, 45, underwent vertebral surgery yesterday after being transferred late on Saturday night from Royal Melbourne Hospital to the Austin Hospital, which specialises in spinal injuries. His condition is said to be stable.

Brereton also sustained concussion, a hairline fracture in his neck, a punctured lung and broken ribs when he fell after his mount, Marquee Player, clipped heels before the home turn in the fifth race on Saturday.

Des O'Keeffe, chief executive of the Victorian Jockeys Association, said surgeons ''found some spinal cord involvement which concerns them'' but that no predictions would be made on his future as his condition could change daily over the next two to six weeks.

He said Brereton will be in intensive care for the next week.

Brereton lost consciousness for about five minutes after he was catapulted from Marquee Player, who then rolled on top of him.

He lay on the track for 20 minutes while paramedics attended to him, forcing stewards to delay the sixth race by 13 minutes.

Nick Hall was brought down from his mount Hollowlea in the fall but was allowed to go home after being taken to Epworth Hospital with back soreness.

Stewards took evidence from jockeys Mark Zahra, James Winks, Brent Stanley and Craig Williams at the opening of an inquiry on Saturday night into the fall.

Brereton's career began nearly 30 years ago but weight problems forced him to look overseas to extend his career. He was one of the first Australians to be licensed to ride in Hong Kong in the 1980s, and has also ridden in Macau, Malaysia and Singapore.

Very sad Mark, we can only pray for the lads.

Martinez is Paralysed from the waist down,According to the Daily Racing Form, the 24-year-old could be a candidate for implantation of embryonic stem cells in hopes of mending the spinal cord.

His condition is `Crytical` but `stable`

Terrible news