Jockey Gallyn Mitchell recovering after spill at Turf Paradise | Horse Racing

Jockey Gallyn Mitchell, from Enumclaw, injured in a spill last week at Turf Paradise, hopes to resume riding within a couple weeks, according to his wife/agent Denise Mitchell.

Mitchell fractured an ankle and his spine in a two-horse spill during the fifth race on Sunday, Dec. 23. Mitchell, aboard Mark of Mischief, was unseated when his mount fell entering the stretch, and then was clipped by an onrushing You Make Me Blue.

“We got very lucky,” Denise Mitchell said. “It could have been a lot worse.”

Mitchell also was having difficulty hearing out of his right ear, but everything appears to be healing fine, and he’s scheduled to have the ankle and spine re-X-rayed next week.

“If all goes well, Booger could be able to ride in two weeks,” Denise Mitchell said.

Mitchell, 50, is legendary for his toughness. In fact, he’s been known to leave the ER and venture back to the track to fulfill riding engagements. It’s one of the reasons he ranks No. 1 in virtually every major riding category at Emerald Downs, compiling 1,347 wins, 76 stakes wins and $13,847,580 in earnings.

Mitchell was riding well at Turf Paradise prior to the accident, winning on 14-of-76 mounts including stakes triumphs on Washington-breds Absolutely Cool and E Z Kitty.

Mitchell also had his 2012 Emerald Downs meet cut short by injury, suffering a broken hand August 5 in a freak accident prior to the Angie C Stakes. He finished 11th overall with 25 wins, his first non-Top 5 finish in the track’s 17-season history.

“At midnight tonight, we’re going to kiss 2012 goodbye,” Denise Mitchell said.

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