Pincay Breaks Collarbone in Del Mar Spill

Laffit Pincay, racing’s second-winningest jockey, suffered a broken collarbone and possibly one broken rib Saturday when his mount stumbled in the last race at Del Mar.

Pincay, who will be sidelined for an indefinite period, is one win away from tying Bill Shoemaker’s record for most career wins at Del Mar (891) and, with 8,631 wins, is 203 away from breaking Shoemaker’s record for most wins overall. Shoemaker retired from riding in 1990.

Riding Sid The Author in the 10th race, Pincay was unseated when the 8-year-old gelding, in third place, went down as the field began the run down the backstretch. Pincay’s agent, Bob Meldahl, said that Pincay’s horse clipped the heels of Millroy, the horse that was in second place.

Another horse, Totana, stumbled over Sid The Author, throwing his rider, Brice Blanc, who was not injured. Meldahl said that Totana struck Pincay. Neither horse appeared to be injured.

Pincay, 52, was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla for tests and observation.

Pincay was voted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1975.

Pincay’s career, which started in his native Panama in 1964, has been interrupted by numerous injuries. He has broken his collarbone 12 times, once in an exhibition harness race at Los Alamitos. He broke three ribs in a spill at Hollywood Park in 1995. In March 1997, he fractured three ribs and suffered a broken pelvis in an accident at Santa Anita.

Talking about injuries, Pincay said recently: “We know something could happen, but we just don’t think about it. If you ride a horse that doesn’t feel good going to the gate, you know the horse can break down, but you have to take a chance.”