Jockey Thompson dies after accident

Dec 26, 2008 - 10:13 PM CYPRESS, California (Ticker) -- Jockey Sam Thompson passed away Thursday morning due to injuries sustained in a racing accident at the Los Alamitos Race Course.

Thompson, 36, had been on life support at Los Alamitos Medical Center since December 20 when he was thrown from Harems Dynasty following a quarter-horse race at Los Alamitos.

He was hurt when the 2-year-old filly dropped him past the wire after finishing seventh during a 300-yard maiden race.

When Thompson began to fail, his family chose to take him off life support early Thursday morning.

"Sam wanted his organs to be donated," said Kristen Watanabe, his girlfriend for 11 years. "His kidneys were removed and someone will be getting those. On the night of the accident I was torn apart. They resuscitated him twice and I feel like he came back to give us an opportunity to prepare.

"His mother had an opportunity to come (from Maryland ) to see him and so did his dad and brother. We were all able to say goodbye to him in the proper fashion."

Thompson recently returned to the saddle after missing most of the 2008 season while recovering from a broken foot.

Through December 15, he had won 12 races at Los Alamitos this season. He won 600 Quarter Horse races, including 55 stakes in his Los Alamitos career.

The Los Alamitos season ended on Monday. December 21. There will be a memorial service for Thompson when the 2009 campaign begins on January 2.