Following a serious fall at Gulfstream Park earlier this week, exercise rider Bulfrano Andres Bahena was upgraded from critical to stable condition per his wife, Monica Garcia, on Friday. Bahena suffered serious back as well as various other injuries in the fall and underwent successful surgery Wednesday at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami to stabilize his back. Unfortunately he suffered significant nerve damage according to Garcia and faces a very long road of physical therapy and recovery according to his doctors. She said the long-range prognosis remains “unknown” at the present time.
Better known as Chano to his many friends on the backstretch, Bahena was aboard an unraced 2-year-old, Halverson (Audible), for trainer Bob Hess when the horse stumbled and rolled over the fallen rider. Halverson suffered no apparent injuries from the incident.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Bahena and his family. Donations can be made here.
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