Despite severe injuries in racetrack incident, 68-year-old jockey plans to return to riding

Jockey, 68, plans to return from severe injuries

OKLAHOMA CITY — A 68-year-old quarter horse jockey says he plans to return to riding despite suffering major injuries in a weekend accident at Oklahoma’s Remington Park.

From his hospital bed Monday, Roy Brooks of Blanchard says he’d like to return to racing by the start of the track’s 2011 quarter horse meet next March. He says doctors tell him he’ll need about six months to recover from the broken pelvis and torn urethra he suffered on Saturday night.

Brooks was hurt when his mount reared up and fell on him before loading into the starting gate. He had surgery Sunday.

Brooks says he plans to ride in a race in August 2011, when he would be 70. He is believed to be the second-oldest jockey in the nation.