Abel Lezcano put on an incredible show of courage and athleticism at Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago on Sunday, holding on for dear life after his right stirrup broke loose while he was battling for the lead in the third race aboard the 5-year-old gelding Christmas Present.
The duo started from the No. 1 post position in the one-mile, 70-yard claiming race on the main track, with Christmas Present taking the early advantage on his rivals. As Christmas Present rounded the clubhouse turn into the backstretch while engaged with Blooming Garden for the lead, Lezcano virtually disappeared from the camera view after the right stirrup suddenly gave out.
The head-on patrol films showed Lezcano, pitched onto the right side of his mount, clinging onto the neck of Christmas Present, who continued to run at full speed. For more than 10 seconds, Lezcano struggled to regain his balance, finally pulling himself back aboard Christmas Present, who gradually dropped back while racing close to the rail.
Lezcano continued his way around the course riding bareback style, his legs wrapped around the horse, until an outrider caught up with him as he trailed the field down the stretch.
Lezcano may have been shaken by the incident, but he came back to ride the next four races on Sunday’s card, going out a winner in the seventh-race finale with a stretch-running victory aboard Maneuver.