Jockey remains in critical condition: Hollywood native thrown from horse shortly after finishing a quarter race

Richard Gilliard, a 27-year-old jockey from Hollywood, remains in critical condition after being thrown from his horse Tuesday night at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind.

Gilliard's sister, Regina Gilliard of Summerville, was with him at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis on Thursday.

She said their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gilliard Sr. of Hollywood, are making plans to travel to Indianapolis.

"The doctors said it's still too early," Regina said when asked about her brother's prognosis.

The atmosphere at the track has been somber.

"Everybody is down now. Richard is a well-liked guy. He is always in a good mood," fellow jockey Rodney Prescott told the Anderson (Ind.) Herald Bulletin.

The jockeys held a moment of silence for Gilliard prior to Wednesday's races.

Brian Elmore, vice president and general manager of racing at Hoosier Park, located about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis, said Gilliard had won the previous race, a 350-yard sprint for quarter horses, before being injured. Elmore said quarter horses reach speeds of 45 mph and being thrown from a horse would be like jumping out of an automobile at the same speed. The most common jockey injuries are broken collarbones, broken legs and broken arms.

"Unfortunately, there are times when you have injuries that are of a serious nature like Richard's," Elmore said.

"He was in the winner's circle getting his picture taken, so he was trying to do a double that night, win back-to-back. In the race he was injured, he actually finished second. He was thrown from his mount about 30 yards past the finish line."

Witnesses said the 115-pound Gilliard was dislodged from his mount when the horse, MCM He Be Azoomin, veered to the right and tried to jump a gate leading to the paddock. The horse landed on its side, got up and was corralled in the paddock.

Medical personnel quickly got to Gilliard, who was first transported to a local hospital before being flown to St. Vincent's.

Gilliard's love for horses began when his father bought him a horse before he was in high school. After graduating from Baptist Hill, Gilliard went to Virginia to get his license as a horse trainer, Regina said.

"He trained for a few years and after being a trainer he started to ride," she said.

"He's done real well. He's in the top 100 (riders) as far as quarter horses go. He won a stakes race two years ago at Indiana Downs. He's done real well."