Alicia Wincze on horse racing

Jockey Julia Brimo, who suffered injuries when her mount, Golden Stride, clipped heels and fell during today’s first race at Keeneland, has been listed in critical condition by the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Brimo was traveling along the rail on Golden Stride inside of Gihon midway through the 1 1/8-mile race over the Polytrack. When she attempted to advance, it appeared Brimo and her mount bumped with Gihon and the ricochet back caused Golden Stride to clip heels with Major Advantage just in front of her.

Keeneland medical personnel initially reported her vital signs were stable in the track’s first aid room.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Brimo won the Sovereign Award as the top apprentice jockey in Canada for 2003, when she rode 75 winners. After being involved with hunters and jumpers, Brimo began her riding career in 2001 and scored her first career victory in June 2002 at Fort Erie aboard a 13-1 shot named Four Storms.

In May 2007, Daily Racing Form reported that Brimo had galloped horses for trainer Mark Casse in Ocala, Florida, during the most recent winter and spring and then had galloped horses at Turfway Park, Keeneland and Churchill Downs for Casse and for trainers Mark Frosted, Roger Attfield and Dallas Stewart.

Among the horses Brimo galloped for Casse was Sealy Hill, who was named Canada’s 2007 Horse of the Year.

Jeff Johnston, the Midwest regional representative for the Jockeys’ Guild, said Guild national manager Terry Meyocks was at the hospital with Brimo but had no further details about her condition or her injuries.

At Keeneland, Brimo had ridden in two previous races during the fall meeting prior to the start of racing today. In her career, she has 163 wins from 1,612 mounts. Horses she has ridden have earned $5,536,274.

Golden Stride fell halfway through the 1 1/8-mile race but suffered no major injuries.