LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A well-known jockey is still recovering tonight, following a collision at Churchill Downs that led to a horse being euthanized.
Hall of Famer, Jockey John Velazquez, was just celebrating a victory in the Belmont Stakes last week.
Tonight he remains in the hospital after the horrific accident that happened during Churchill Downs' ninth race.
Three horses get tangled up, and their jockeys go down.
Jockey John Velazquez faces surgery after breaking his collarbone in the fall.
Trainers and riders say the crash is tragic, and these accidents are unpredictable and unexpected.
They say it's the nature of the business, just like any other sport.
Exercise rider, Eric Russell, says. "There's a lot of risks involved but its something they all love doing or they wouldn't be doing it in the first place."
The other two horses and jockeys involved in the crash walked away mostly unharmed.
We have tried to reach out Velazquez's agent in New York, but he has not returned our phone calls.
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