by Mike Curry

Sixteen-year-old apprentice jockey Lyndie Wade, who on Tuesday was awakened from an induced coma, took his first steps on Wednesday since he was injured in a spill at Hawthorne Race Course.

Wade was transported to Loyola Hospital in Maywood, Illinois, on November 30 after his mount broke down in the third race. Doctors discovered bleeding on his brain, and Wade remained in an induced coma until Tuesday morning.

Jay Fedor, Wade’s jockey agent, said he has been extremely pleased with the significant strides he has made since he was brought out of the coma.

“He’s sitting up in a chair; he is talking but he’s still confused at times,” Fedor said. “They had him up walking around today. He was reading a program, he recognized Chris Emigh’s name. I have Chris’s book, too, and they’ve become good friends.”

Fedor said Wade’s family was at his side at the hospital, and the improvements he has made since Tuesday have been encouraging.

“He’s got a fractured jaw, but they haven’t determined whether they want to operate or not,” Fedor said. “The rest of him is healthy. He had pneumonia, which I’m led to believe is common when you’re on a ventilator, but that’s clearing up."

Fedor said the tremendous outpouring of support from the local racing community— including trainers, jockeys, exercise riders, grooms, and management—has been unbelievable. He said Wade has become very popular despite only riding at Hawthorne for about two weeks.

“He has so much going for him,” Fedor said. “His charisma and character is just contagious, and he is a very talented rider. In two weeks, I was able to ride with anyone with him. Everyone loves him, and I’ve never seen it like that around here with a kid. It has a lot to do with how his parents raised him.

“He’s living here with me and I’ve taken him in as my responsibility. He’s like part of my family, even though he’s been here such a short time; he’s such a great kid.”

Wade, who began riding professionally earlier this year at Louisiana Downs, has 51 wins from 507 starters this season.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor