Terribly sad news from Saratoga
 

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/sto...storyID=712924

Very sad indeed.

Yes, very sad.. My condolences go out to Parkers family:(

Indeed, how sad. My condolences to the family.

thoughts and prayers....:(

Unbelievable. Buckley and Blasi are regular Barbecue visitors. Spent a few minutes with him Saturday while he was waiting in line. I can't believe it.. Heartfelt sympathies to Parker's family and the Asmussen team.

i work at amc, i am actually here now typing this...
this is a true tragedy, this man is laying here waiting to die
it is hard to beleive in a god or have faith in anything, after something like this happens

:(

I remember watching Buckley ride at Finger Lakes. Terrible tragedy.

I know it does'nt make it any easier, but one day we will understand. Never give up your faith in God.

What does an accident have to do with having faith in God?
Do you really think God controls every move we make?

If every time something bad happens you question your faith, then maybe you dont have any.

I'm sorry for everyone who knows him.

Does anyone know exactly what happened?

I saw on a blog on NTRA.com yesterday that the horse threw him and then clipped him in the head. Didn't sound that serious at the time though and they've since removed that part of the blog. Very sad.

Sad
 

So sorry to read this story....
One of my favorite parts of going to Saratoga each year is going to the Oklahoma Track in the morning and watch all of the horses work out and talk to the exercise riders.

The exercise riders as a group are always so friendly and nice to a stranger like myself.

Just a sad story that puts everything in perspective.....

PSH

information from this morning....he fell while galloping on the training track...not breezing...was up and walking after the fall...claimed the saddle slipped but saddle was found to be fine..was taken to Saratoga Hospital....while at the hospital suffered a massive stroke and was airlifted to Albany Med...not likely directly related to the fall...

Me too. Hope he can pull through.

Fall claims former jockey
 

An exercise rider who fell while galloping a horse early Monday at Oklahoma Training Track died Tuesday morning at Albany Medical Center.

Parker Buckley III, 40, a former jockey, was employed since April 2007 by Steve Asmussen, trainer of 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin.

Buckley, who was reportedly conscious right after the fall, was first taken to Saratoga Hospital, then flown to Albany where a CT scan revealed blood on the brain and doctors placed him in a medically-induced coma.

"I never met anybody who didn't like him," Asmussen said Tuesday, after visiting with Buckley's family in Albany. "I can say without hesitation, he's a great guy. Last winter he called me from Tampa and said he was going to quit riding.

"He's worked for me ever since."

The tragedy casts a shadow over this week's Travers Festival and a 2008 meet that by any account has been largely disappointing. Hampered by bad weather, high gas prices and a poor economy, attendance and handle figures are well below average and Saturday's Travers has none of the most high-profile horses from this year's Triple Crown races.
http://www.saratogian.com/site/news....d=602469&rfi=6

My prayers for this man are sincere and heartfelt. Unfortunately this injury happens every day in this country with the same result whether on a horse, bike,in a car or on foot. The skull is not a forgiving encasement of the most precious thing it protects. The rise in pressure with a slow venous bleed of this sort after a fall or trauma is all too often fatal or profoundly debilitating which IMO is worse. Hopefully God will answer his prayers and ease his suffering....very very tragic....

Parker was a good guy. Far too young...

Very, very sad....remember him well from Finger Lakes. My heart goes out to his family and friends....life sometimes is too short :(
RIP Parker

Very saddened

This sport takes alot of hard workers

Very sad news our thoughts to all; we need to remeber all the special people involved in taking care of the pony's!