Representatives for a jockey that was seriously injured during a Thoroughbred race have filed a lawsuit against the racetrack. According to the lawsuit, track officials failed to prevent an in-race ‘attack’ by a fellow rider.

A report by Florida news outlet wsvn.com explains that lawyers representing injured jockey Ore Zarella have filed suit against Calder Race Course, stating that track officials failed to exercise reasonable care.

Zarella sustained serious injuries this past June after her mount, which was racing in tight quarters along the rail in the homestretch, fell to the track.

The jockey’s lawyers are taking the position that the incident was no accident. They have claimed that track officials were aware of multiple threats that a fellow jockey, Jocy Gomez, had previously made towards Zarella and other riders.

Gomez was aboard one of the horses that was in close quarters when Zarella and her mount went down.

During the race in question, Gomez rode her mount in a tight, four-wide position. Zarella’s lawyers are stating that Gomez utilized her racing crop on the right side of her mount, thus forcing the rest of the three horses and their jockeys into a very dangerous situation, which resulted in Zarella and her mount crashing to the ground.

The report states that Zarella may never ride a Thoroughbred again. After the accident, Zarella was placed in a medically-induced coma. Among her other injuries, Zarella suffered a fractured skull and bleeding brain.

(With files from wsvn.com)