By Bloodhorse.com
OAKLAND, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2015) — Jockey Dennis Carr, who suffered a blunt blow to the back of his head in a starting gate incident Sunday, April 19 at Golden Gate Fields, was “sitting up and recovering very well” Monday morning after undergoing surgery Sunday night at Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif.
The surgery was performed to remove blood from around his brain and relieve cranial pressure.
“The doctors at Highland said the surgery was a complete success and that there will be a full neurological recovery with no residual brain damage,” reported Golden Gate Fields’ track physician, Dr. David Seftel, . “Dennis is sitting up, alert, and recovering very well this morning. He is expected to make a full recovery.”
Carr sustained his head injury when his mount in the fifth race, Sharpton, reared wildly in the gate. Carr was ejected out of the back of the gate and wasn’t sure what his head hit during the incident.
Carr walked around behind the gate without the need of assistance following the accident and was taken by ambulance to the track’s medical center, where he complained of a headache.
Carr was evaluated by Seftel and then transported to Highland Hospital for a precautionary CT-scan, which revealed the bleeding. Seftel said Carr is expected to remain in the intensive care unit for one to two days before being transfered elsewhere within the hospital.