Jockey Alex Birzer has begun what will be the longest layoff of his career, but the 51-year-old is motivated to return to the saddle after being sidelined during an accident in the starting gate June 30 at Prairie Meadows.
“I’ll make a comeback,” he said Thursday. “I’m two shy from 4,000 [wins]. I’m not going to shut it down with that.”
Birzer could be out for four to six months after breaking both the tibia and fibula bones above one of his ankles. He had surgeries July 1 and July 5. The accident happened as a filly he was aboard flipped in the starting gate.
“My leg got hung up behind the tail gate and her back,” Birzer recalled. “As she went on over she kind of threw her head and pushed me off the tail gate and I kind of got hung up there for an instant. I broke both bones right above my ankle.
“It’s going to be a slow recovery. Amazingly enough, I’m not in any pain.”
Birzer said he’s been directed not to put any weight on the leg for six weeks, and is using crutches. Birzer is a native of Hutchinson, Kan. He registered his first career win as a jockey on June 24, 1992 at River Downs. He’s since won numerous titles, some at Prairie Meadows and the Woodlands, and others in Nebraska. Birzer has won graded stakes with Remembering Rita in the Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows, and Patton’s Victory in the Fifth Season at Oaklawn Park.
Through the years, he’s amassed a career record of 3,998 Thoroughbred wins in North America from 28,501 starts. His mounts have earned $73 million. Birzer has also won 51 races for Quarter Horses.
“Some of the horsemen I’ve rode for I’ve been so blessed to be around,” he said, reflecting on the pending milestone. “And some of the riders that I’ve rode with, you learn so much from those guys. Now, I’m in a spot where I can teach the younger generation and when they’re going on and they’re riding and they’re doing things right, man it just makes you feel so good.”
Birzer said his wife, Bonnie, recently started training and he’s enjoyed being a part of her career at the track.
“To be able to ride and win on her horses and see her babies and young horses grow up and develop into better horses, it’s such a different perspective,” he said.
“It’s been a great ride. I can’t complain a little bit. It’s been a lot of fun. I’m still a little kid living out his life dream.”
Birzer said he plans to visit family during his downtime. He also plans to work in the tack shop his family owns at Prairie Meadows.
“I’ve got things I can do for the time being,” he said.
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