Jockey Cheats Disaster After Mid-Race Launch

Veteran jockey Edgard Zayas walked away from a terrifying spill at Aqueduct Racetrack after being thrown headfirst off his horse moments after a race began.

The frightening incident unfolded during Sunday’s eighth race when Zayas, riding a horse named Glint, attempted to move inward from an outside starting position shortly after leaving the gate, per the New York Post.

According to reports, Glint clipped heels with another horse, Screaming Uncle, creating immediate chaos near the back of the pack.

The contact caused Glint to stumble and panic, launching Zayas high into the air in a dramatic 🍂Fall that could have ended much worse.

Instead of falling behind the horse — which is more common in racing accidents — Zayas flipped over the front of Glint and crashed headfirst into the dirt.

Despite the violent spill, the horse managed to avoid stepping on him as both continued moving forward.

The positioning of the horses likely helped prevent an even more serious disaster.

Because Glint and Zayas were trailing the field, the 32-year-old jockey avoided being trampled by the other six horses competing in the mile-long race.

Zayas quickly moved himself out of danger after hitting the track and escaped with only minor injuries.