Jockey Humberto Rispoli sustained multiple fractures during a fall in the turf sprint at Gulfstream Park, which took place as part of the undercard for the Pegasus World Cup, according to his agent Matt Nakatani. Rispoli broke his ankle, tibia, and fibula after dismounting from his horse, Unconquerable Keene, following what appeared to be a misstep on another horse’s heel at the racetrack in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
Rispoli was carried off the grass course on a stretcher, transported by ambulance to a hospital, and will require surgery. Nakatani stated, “We will share more updates once we have a clearer timeline for Humberto’s recovery.” He added, “Humberto is fully focused on returning to racing as soon as possible. I’m truly thankful that the injuries weren’t more severe and grateful for all the support from fans during this difficult period.”
Following the incident, jockey Jose Ortiz returned to check on Rispoli and accompanied him to the ambulance. The accident happened near pole 16 when John Velasquez aboard My Boy Prince drifted ahead of Rispoli’s mount, Unconquerable Keene, causing the latter to stumble and flip Rispoli over his left shoulder. Fortunately, Unconquerable Keene quickly regained balance and rejoined the race.
Unconquerable Keene, trained by Phil D’Amato, was safely collected by outriders and returned to the stable without any apparent injuries. My Boy Prince went on to finish third in the five-furlong turf sprint won by Lawsuit. On the same Pegasus World Cup card, Rispoli was scheduled to ride two more horses trained by D’Amato, although those mounts—Barnikov in the G3 McKnight and Almendal in the G1 Pegasus Turf—were instead ridden by Joel Rosario and Tyler Gaffalione, respectively. Additionally, Rispoli was booked for four races at Santa Anita later that Sunday.
This report was initially published by Paulick Report on January 25, 2026, in the News section.
Fan Take: This incident highlights both the dangers jockeys face on the track and the resilience they show in overcoming injuries. For horse racing fans, Rispoli’s injury underscores the sport’s physical risks but also builds anticipation for his determined comeback, which can inspire renewed interest and respect for the athletes involved.
