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SUNNY Temp: 88 °F Wind: WNW at 10 mph Thursday, July 24, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 18, 2003 Accident spurs Bryson to call it quits By FRANK SILOW Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — Danny Bryson was presented with a helpless situation at Grants Pass Downs Saturday. The 53-year-old jockey saw an accident unfolding in front of him, but was powerless to do anything about it. The end result landed Bryson in Three Rivers Community Hospital, just a couple hundred yards from the GP Downs half-mile dirt oval, with a broken left femur and hip. It also ended the 32-year riding career for the Prineville native. Advertisement "I told my wife, if I got hurt again, I’d be done," said Bryson from his hospital bed. Injuries are nothing new to the veteran jockey. Bryson had broken the same femur at a Spokane, Wash., track in 1980 when a horse crashed over the outside fence. "I went down at Seattle a couple of years ago and broke my back in two places and six ribs," said Bryson. "You never know when something like this is going to happen." Bryson, who was the clerk of scales at Portland Meadows this season, had been winding down his jockey career. He was lured into coming to Grants Pass for the first time this season and planned to ride the remainder of the Oregon summer fair circuit because of a jockey bonus incentive program. He was tied for seventh in the current jockey standings at GP Downs with five wins. The accident occurred in Saturday’s $8,000-added Grants Pass Quarter Horse Derby finals when Bryson’s horse, Dakotas Grand Effort, crashed into Phils Dash Ta Fame, who had fallen to the ground just after the finish line. Jockey Tad Skaggs had Phils Dash Ta Fame, last year’s Firecracker Futurity winner, in the lead when the horse broke down. "We had it won until the last 20 yards," said Skaggs. "Then I heard the left leg snap. I tried to pull him up and tried to stop, but he went right and the other leg snapped." Bryson didn’t have an opportunity to make any adjustments. "I saw Tad’s horse going down in front of me and was looking for some options, which weren’t very good," said Bryson. "I had a horse on the outside of me and there was no way I could avoid Tad’s horse. "I tumbled over him and my horse tumbled over me," Bryson added. "Another horse came up behind and caught the back of my head and tumbled me down the track a little farther." As Bryson lay on the track, he was aware of his injury: "I knew instantly I broke my femur. It was numb and the leg was off to the side." Skaggs was also taken to the hospital, but was released with severe abrasions on his arms and strained arm tendons. Skaggs expects to be sidelined three to four weeks. The Baxter Andruss-trained Phils Dash Ta Fame, was put down because of his injuries. Dakotas Grand Effort, owned by Carl Alleman of Selma, was banged up, but came out of the accident without any long-term problems. "I can’t find any blame," said John Harris, trainer of Dakotas Grand Effort. "It wasn’t bad riding or a bad track. It was just one of those things." Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times