By Ray Paulick
Though he remains unconscious at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center three days after a serious racing accident at Penn National near Harrisburg, Pa., 22-year-old jockey Craig Gibbs has shown “really good improvement” in his condition over the last 24 hours, according to his agent, Vern Rings.

“The swelling is completely gone from his face, and he looks like the kid I know,” Rings told the Paulick Report Tuesday afternoon. “He is breathing on his own, though he is still hooked up to the ventilator as a safeguard. His mother (Carol Gibbs) touched his forehead and asked him that if he could feel her hand to move his left leg. He did.”

In addition, Rings said, Gibbs has done some “thrashing around” as he appears to be coming closer to being out of an unconscious state. “There are some really good signs,” he said.
 
Gibbs, 11th in the current Penn National jockey standings and the second leading Maryland rider of 2008, was injured Saturday night when his mount appeared to clip heels when in tight quarters during a race on the Penn National turf course. He was thrown to the ground and rolled repeatedly but did not appear to be hit by any horses. He suffered head trauma, along with a broken collarbone and ribs and fractured vertebra.

Rings said the outpouring of support, concerns and prayers from friends and people in the racing community has been significant. “We want to thank everyone who has called and prayed for Craig’s recovery,” he said.

Tags: Carol Gibbs, Craig Gibbs, Paulick Report, penn national, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Ray Paulick, Vern Ring

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