Gofundme launched for injured Christian Maldonado
Jockey Christian Maldonado will be out 3 months after July 18 spill
The Biz
July 21, 2026
Jockey Christian Maldonado is facing a lengthy recovery after a riding accident at Charles Town has left him with a complex collarbone fracture and unable to ride for at least three months.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Maldonado and his family as he recovers from injuries suffered in the opening race July 18.
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According to the official chart, Maldonado’s mount, Ride to Remember, “drafted inside off the vying twosome down the backside, angled off the rail, stuck in traffic, fell after clipping heels into the far turn and walked off.” Maldonado was injured in the spill.
In a message posted on the fundraiser page, Maldonado said he suffered “a complex fracture of my collarbone near my sternum” and has been told by his doctor that he will need at least 12 weeks of recovery and may require surgery before he can return to riding.
The injury comes less than a year after another significant setback. Maldonado wrote that a fall in August 2025 resulted in a concussion that kept him out of action for nearly two months. After returning in November, he said he worked “Monday through Sunday” to regain the income lost during his absence.
“Providing for my family has always been my top priority, and I’ve never shied away from hard work or sacrifice,” Maldonado wrote. “Asking for help is not something that comes easily to me, but recent events have made it necessary.”
He added that the latest injury has left him unable to work, support his household, or “be the active parent I strive to be.”
“Any donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward household expenses and my recovery, allowing me to focus on healing and supporting my loved ones,” he wrote. “If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean just as much.”
Prior to the accident, Maldonado had ridden 24 winners from 232 mounts this year, with his horses earning $575,678 in purses.
Since launching his riding career in 2024, Maldonado has compiled 152 victories from 1,167 starts while his mounts have earned more than $2.9 million. He celebrated his first career victory March 15, 2024 when the Jose Corrales-trained No More Mask won a claiming race at Laurel Park.
As of the morning of July 21, the campaign has raised $3,500 towards a goal of $9,000.
TO SUPPORT: Help Christian Recover After Serious Injury
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