(KLFY) -- Lafayette native and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. is recovering in the hospital after a fall at Churchill Downs.

Hernandez, who won the 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, was seriously injured when his horse, Sgt. Garcia, threw him to the ground during a race.

His wife, Jamie Hernandez, posted on social media that her husband is recovering well. Hernandez sustained seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a lacerated liver, which required immediate surgery.

Recently, Hernandez underwent successful surgery to stabilize his ribs, marking a significant step in his recovery process.

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All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a

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