Injured Jockey Put Down

Luis Mercado, the jockey for Kentucky Derby favorite Rising Tide, was put down this morning after injuring his ankle during a practice run yesterday. The horse’s trainer killed Mercado with a single shot to the back of the head.

Mercado is pictured moments before his life was ended.

Mercado is thought to be the first injured jockey to be killed in horse racing history. He sprained his ankle when he dismounted Rising Tide awkwardly after taking some practice laps at Churchill Downs.

“When it occurred it didn’t seem to bad – Luis just walked it off,” said Winthrop, “but as the day progressed it got more tender and started to swell up. By this morning we realized what was going to have to happen.”

Despite Winthrop’s insistence that Mercado was resigned to his fate, the jockey’s friends and family say they were surprised to hear of his death.

“I talked to Luis last night and everything seemed fine,” said his brother, Manuel Mercado. “I’m pretty sure he would have told me if he knew he was going to be put down. All he said was that he had turned his ankle over and hoped it didn’t hurt on Saturday for the race. It didn’t seem like a big deal to him.”

“We always encouraged Luis to go after his dreams as a jockey,” said Conchita Mercado, Luis’s mother. “Never did we think he was an injury away from being shot. It’s a very sad day for all of us.”

Mercado’s fellow jockeys were equally shocked by the news.

“Euthanizing always seems like such a harsh decision, especially when it’s done to a jockey,” said Gary Milton, the jockey for Pittance. “I understand that he couldn’t race anymore, but I wish they could have found an alternative. I think Luis would have happily accepted being put out to stud or something with a light, short woman to produce future jockeys. Anything would be better than this.”

Neither friends, family, nor his fellow jockeys say Mercado told them that he was going to be put down today, and he left no note or will. “Luis and I discussed that and he said he didn’t want people to try to talk him out of it,” said Winthrop. “He knew what needed to be done and wanted to get it over with. If you look at the picture that was taken moments before he was put down, you can tell Luis was serene and content with the decision.”

But since the news of Mercado’s death was reported, rumors have swirled that he was put down not because of his injury, but because he had already put himself “out to stud” with Winthrop’s wife.

“We all have known for months that Luis has been having a fling with Bob Winthrop’s wife,” said a fellow jockey who wished to remain anonymous. “I don’t think putting down Luis was a humane act. I it was a calculated murder. And you can tell by the look on his face in that picture that he had no idea what was coming.”

Racing officials said they are investigating all aspects of Mercado’s death – as they do with all horses who are put down to ensure every alternative was exhausted – and said they will turn the matter over to the police if they find any wrongdoing.

“The rumors that there was something personal to this are ridiculous,” said Winthrop. “This is a business. We don’t put jockeys down unless there’s a good reason and we absolutely have to.”

Winthrop is currently speaking with several jockeys about taking Mercado’s place for Saturday’s Derby.