One of North America's top trainers, Travis Alexander is currently recovering from injuries sustained in a training accident last week at Sunshine Meadows in Delray Beach, Florida.

Alexander suffered fractures to his shoulder and leg after an incident on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the training centre.

“I had a three-year-old coming off the track that shook his bridle off and I tried to hold on because the bit was still in his mouth, thinking I was 20 years old instead of 45. I should have let go and I didn’t,” Alexander told Trot Insider. “I kind of got pulled along for a little bit and then once I let go, I just landed wrong, I guess you could say. I broke my left shoulder in three spots and I broke the tibial plateau in my right leg.”

Alexander said he won’t need surgery as long as he keeps weight off the fractured leg to avoid complications that could arise from any movement or pressure on the tibia. As a result, Alexander must rely on a wheelchair for mobility as he is unable to use crutches due to his shoulder injury and doctors will monitor his progress on a weekly basis.

“It could have been a lot worse. I'm very lucky that all the fractures are lined up and not displaced, and they’ll heal with time,” said Alexander, whose prognosis for recovery is eight to 10 weeks. “It just stinks that I can’t move around much.”

In addition to the support from his wife Alaina, Alexander acknowledged his Florida team, including Matt Krueger, Jim Meittinis, Doug Miller and Robbie Hoffman, as well as Deiby Franco at his New York base, for keeping his stable of 100 horses running smoothly.

“I'm fortunate to have a hall of fame crew down here, as far as assistant trainers and grooms, and they're able to march on like if I was there,” said Alexander, who has trained winners of 1,131 races and more than $25 million in purses during his career. “And even my crew in New York, they're doing a good job. I was supposed to go out there this weekend, but that's out.”

Coming off a career-best season in 2024, Alexander has lots to look forward to upon his recovery with 35 promising babies in his stable and a strong group of older pacers training back impressively, including the likes of Desperate Man, Racing Rampage, Why Not Now and Pleaseletmeknow, as well as Sire Stakes champions Sweet Beach Life and Howlenthehills, who finished 1-2 in last year’s Messenger.

“I think Desperate Man is better than he was last year right now -- he was the last time I sat behind him,” noted Alexander, adding that the former Canadian Horse of the Year will have an expanded stakes schedule this season with more travel to bigger tracks. “Now that I can’t sit behind him, Jimmy Meittinis is the one that’s going to be assigned to train him. He’s an amazing horse.”

Since being sidelined, Alexander has been able to visit the Florida training centre a couple of times to watch some of the 75 horses he has there in action.

In addition to acknowledging his crew, Alexander also expressed gratitude to everyone who has offered support and well wishes.

“Thanks to all the people that reached out and were concerned about my well being,” he said. “It's humbling.”

Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Travis Alexander a full and speedy recovery.

(Standardbred Canada)