Jockey Raul Mena’s Remarkable Comeback: From Coma to the 2025 Preakness StakesBALTIMORE — In a sport where courage and resilience are as essential as skill, jockey Raul Mena’s journey to the 150th Preakness Stakes on May 17, 2025, stands as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome unimaginable odds. Fourteen years ago, a catastrophic accident in his native Chile left Mena, then a young jockey, with 24 broken bones and in a coma for five weeks. Doctors doubted he would walk again, let alone return to the saddle. Yet, at 33, Mena is set to ride in his first Triple Crown race, aboard the long-shot colt Pay Billy, in one of horse racing’s most prestigious events at Pimlico Race Course.
A Life-Altering Accident
In 2011, Mena was competing in a race at Valparaiso Sporting Club in Viña del Mar, Chile, when disaster struck. The horse he was riding jumped the rail, throwing him to the ground with devastating force. “It was a scary accident,” Mena recalled in an interview with The Associated Press on May 14, 2025. “I broke 24 bones in all my body, and I was in a coma for five weeks.” Among the injuries were six fractured vertebrae, six broken ribs, both shoulders, his collarbone, and more. One doctor delivered a grim prognosis: Mena would never ride again. Another suggested he find a new career, as even walking might be a challenge.
Waking from the coma, Mena faced a grueling recovery. The physical pain was immense, but so was his determination. “I was young, and I was doing it,” he said, reflecting on his return to riding despite lingering discomfort. His passion for horse racing, sparked by his father and nurtured through his first job as a groom at age 14, drove him forward.
A New Chapter in the United States
Mena’s journey took a pivotal turn in November 2014 when he moved to the United States, seeking new opportunities in a competitive racing landscape. Mentored by retired Hall of Fame jockey and fellow Chilean Jose Santos, Mena began building a career at tracks like Tampa Bay Downs, Laurel Park, and Delaware Park. His first U.S. win came in 2015, marking the start of a steady climb. By 2019, he set a personal record for wins in a season, and in 2021 and 2024, he earned $1.78 million and $1.83 million in purse money, respectively.
However, the road was not without setbacks. A broken femur later in his career led Mena to contemplate retirement. “I said to [my wife] Jaqui, maybe if I don’t make it in five years — I’m just going to take five more years — if I don’t make it, I’m not going to ride horses anymore because it’s very painful and it’s stressful,” he told The Associated Press. But Mena’s resolve held firm. “If you keep pushing forward, you never know when you can be part of a race of the Triple Crown.”
The Road to the Preakness
Mena’s perseverance paid off in 2025, a breakout year that saw him become the regular rider for Pay Billy, a talented three-year-old trained by Michael Gorham. Pay Billy’s victories in the Miracle Wood Stakes and the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park in March and April 2025 secured his spot in the Preakness. Mena’s skillful handling of the colt earned praise from Gorham, who described him as “a hard worker with determination” who “takes care of himself and keeps himself in excellent shape.”
The Federico Tesio win was Mena’s second North American stakes victory and a milestone that propelled him onto the national stage. Now, he faces the biggest challenge of his career: the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, with a $2 million purse and a field of nine top three-year-olds. Pay Billy, a local long shot, will compete against favorites like Journalism, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, and Clever Again, trained by Steve Asmussen.
A Historic Moment at Pimlico
The 2025 Preakness carries added significance as the final running at the current Pimlico Race Course before its demolition and reconstruction. For Mena, the race is not just a professional milestone but a personal triumph. “This is my first time in a Triple Crown race, my first time in a Grade 1 race,” he said, his voice tinged with pride. The event also marks a homecoming of sorts, as Mena has become a mainstay in the Mid-Atlantic racing circuit, particularly at Laurel Park, just 30 miles from Pimlico.
Mena’s story resonates beyond the racetrack. His journey from a near-fatal accident to the Preakness embodies the grit and heart that define horse racing. As he prepares to ride Pay Billy, he carries the hopes of his trainer, his family, and fans inspired by his comeback. “When I came back, I wasn’t feeling really good, but I was young, and I kept going,” Mena said. “Now, here I am.”
Looking Ahead
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, as the gates open at Pimlico, Mena will face a field that includes seasoned jockeys like Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz, and John Velazquez, all riding horses with stronger credentials. Yet, in a sport where upsets are part of the thrill, Pay Billy and Mena could surprise. The track’s muddy conditions, following recent rain, may play to Pay Billy’s strengths, and Mena’s experience on the colt gives him an edge.
Win or lose, Mena’s presence in the 150th Preakness Stakes is a victory in itself. From a hospital bed in Chile to the starting gate in Baltimore, his story is a reminder that determination can defy even the bleakest odds. As he told The Associated Press, “You never know when you can be part of a race of the Triple Crown.” For Raul Mena, that moment has arrived.
By Sherry Phipps, May 14, 2025
Sources: The Baltimore Sun, NBC Sports, Yahoo Sports, BloodHorse, The Associated Press, and posts on X. Additional details verified through web searches for accuracy.
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