by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Toronto, ON — After being involved in a race accident on Oct. 8 at Woodbine Racetrack that saw him briefly hospitalized, trainer/driver Rick Zeron is well on the road to recovery.

Rick Zeron

The veteran horseman was ejected from the bike following a spill at the Rexdale oval. Zeron, guiding Blended Whiskey on the outside past the half, couldn’t sidestep Whippet Good and driver Jason Brewer who fell to the track, causing a chain reaction which involved the veteran reinsman, along with his son, Scott, and Mike Saftic.

All horses and drivers walked off the track under their own power, with the exception of Rick. Now, 12 days after the spill, Zeron’s healing process is coming along smoothly.

“My shoulder is healing faster than expected,” Zeron explained. “Su Lalsingh, who is a homeopathic doctor, and Karen McGregor, who is my sports therapist, each have been working with me on a regular basis and I owe them much of the credit for my shoulder healing so quickly. They are both doing a terrific job in getting me back to the track.”

Zeron also noted fellow driver Mark MacDonald as being instrumental in helping him draw closer to returning to his driving duties sooner than originally anticipated.

“Mark gave me a rotator cup brace that has really helped,” he said. “It’s a long brace that starts at my elbow and goes around my shoulder and helps keep it in place. It’s been a big help.”

Zeron, who has entered three horses for this year’s Breeders Crown eliminations this Saturday at Woodbine, was hoping to be in the bike, but instead will call on his son, Scott, to do the driving duties.

“I’m not 20-years-old anymore,” Zeron said. “Anytime you’re in an accident, you can’t come back 50 percent and expect to be fine. I want to make sure that when I come back, I’ll be ready to go.”

Zeron will send out Lady Rainbow, Miss Dangles and Windsong Hercules for this year’s Breeders Crown.

“All three horses are ready to go,” he added. “Scott has sat behind all three horses and I know he will get along with each of them. He qualified Lady Rainbow and Windsong Hercules the other day and both qualified well.”

After a pair of breaks in the Kentucky Filly Futurity in Lexington, Ky., Lady Rainbow qualified Monday morning as the younger Zeron scored the qualifying victory in a comfortable 2:00.3.

The daughter of Muscles Yankee has banked $522,176 this season and $731,809 lifetime for Zeron Stables, The Camel Club Stable, Rojan Stables and Estate of Herbert Chambers.

“We have a check ligament issue to deal with, but we are doctoring that up for the weekend,” noted Zeron. “I’m confident that Scott will get her positioned well and give her a good trip.”

Zeron also confirmed that he plans to return Lady Rainbow to the races next season as a 4-year-old.

Although he’s been away from the track for the past few weeks, the veteran horseman has yet to see the race footage of his accident.

“It’s something I’m not interested in watching right now,” he offered. “All I remember was being thrown into the air and waking up in the hospital. The rest is a blur.”

Zeron is pointing to early November as the date of his return to the sulky.