Irad Ortiz, the six-time winner of the award for the outstanding jockey at the Breeders' Cup, is to miss next week's meeting after breaking his left ankle in a spill at Keeneland on Thursday.
Ortiz collected his latest Bill Shoemaker Award 12 months ago when he rode three winners at the two-day fixture, taking his total score to 23. But just eight days before this year's event, he has been ruled out indefinitely after the accident at the host track.
Spill in the final race
Riding in the final race at Keeneland, Ortiz was unshipped when his mount, She's Good Trouble, stumbled after taking one stride out of the starting stalls. He hit the ground and the filly continued without him before being caught.
He was attended by medical staff and then taken to the track's First Aid centre for further checks before being transported to hospital by ambulance.
Injury details and career record
The jockey's agent, Steve Rushing, told DRF.com by text that Ortiz had suffered a broken left ankle, would undergo surgery and would be out of action indefinitely.
Puerto Rican Ortiz, 34, has enjoyed a prolific career, regularly ranking at the top of the US jockey standings. In 2026 he has ridden 228 winners, despite an injury absence, and ranks third for most career wins among active riders in the US with 4,556 to date.
Previous injury and Breeders' Cup mounts
Ortiz missed two months of action over the summer after he injured his left foot in an incident at Saratoga in August. He subsequently told Keeneland's publicity team at the start of the meet that he had suffered seven minor fractures in the foot.
His Breeders' Cup mounts had included Further Ado in the Classic, Rhetorical in the Mile, Splendora in the Distaff, Built in the Sprint, and Salahudin in the Juvenile.
