Michael Martinez' on-track accident occurred at Golden Gate Fields in September 2010, at the young age of 24. The Panamanian jockey suffered serious multiple injuries including a head injury, broken ribs, a punctured lung and fractures of his T5, T6 and T7 vertebrae. During an eleven-hour surgery performed the night of his accident, bone fragments were removed and rods were inserted to stabilize his spine. He is now paralyzed from the waist down and is confined to a wheelchair.

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The horse Michael was riding, Fair 'n Warmer, clipped heels when it tight quarters near the 3/8 pole and fell. His horse threw him into the ground and then rolled on top of him, severing his spinal cord. At the time of his accident, the gifted jockey was second in the standings at Golden Gate Fields only behind Hall of Famer, Russell Baze and was ranked 13th in the nation.

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Michael began his career as a jockey at the age of 18 after arriving to America. He didn't have much success in the beginning until moving his business to Northern California. Many horsemen saw talent from the soft spoken jockey and the future looked bright. Talent runs in his family as his cousin is Hall of Fame jockey Alex Solis. 

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Michael's fiance at the time, Charlotte Garcia, gave birth to the couple's first child just nine days after his accident. She delivered a baby girl and they named her Merari. As circumstances would have it, the last winner he rode before his accident was on a horse named Stormin Proud Papa. There's no doubt he is. He has since remarried to Zenety Campos and the couple reside in Orlando, Florida.

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The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PFJF) has been a blessing to Michael. He says, "I'm very thankful to the PDJF for all their help. I use the monthly check mainly towards the house mortgage, which for a person in a wheelchair is the most important thing. I couldn't imagine how hard it would have been to be in a wheelchair and you don't have a home. The PDJF relieves you from the burden of being homeless."

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Michael Martinez will be one of the honored guests at the 10th Annual Jockeys and Jeans Charity Event to benefit the Permanentely Disabled Jockeys Fund. The event will be held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on Saturday, January 11th. Other honored guests will be: Roger Blanco, Sam Boulmetis, Jr., Gary Donahue, Rene Douglas, Linda Hughes, Jayme LaRocca, Armando Rivera, Michael Straight, Anne Von Rosen and Sidney Underwood.