A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Ray Handal's longtime assistant trainer Jose Mejia, who incurred multiple injuries during a training accident Sunday at Turfway Park.
Handal's traveling assistant was unseated from his mount, who stumbled and landed on top of him, causing the 33-year-old Mejia to incur 10 broken ribs and four broken vertebrae. Handal said Mejia has undergone surgery but currently has no feeling below his ribcage.
“He's a great guy and has given us so much. He's like a brother to me,” Handal said. “He's been with me since I started training about six years ago. He's the first rider I hired when I started. He's a tough guy and no matter what, he's always going to be a part of the Handal racing team.”
Mejia is receiving additional help from The Jockey Club's Safety Net Foundation and Handal said he is also forming plans with some of his owners for an online auction to raise further funds for Mejia.
“Jose has been so important to the barn and has put so much into the horses that race for us. It's good to see people coming together to help,” Handal said.
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