Veteran Quarter Horse trainer Leon Bard is recovering from bypass surgery on April 22 after suffering a heart attack.

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HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 29, 2019—Veteran Texas Quarter Horse trainer Leon Bard suffered a heart attack two weeks ago and underwent bypass surgery on April 22. His close friend and fellow horseman, Lewis "Tooter" Jordan as kind enough to share this update.

"He went through quite an ordeal," said Jordan. "But, he is out of ICU and is expected to be released from the hospital early this week. Next will be another recovery period in a rehabilitation facility."

The encouraging news is that Bard is fighting on, even telling his staff which horses to enter in upcoming races.

"I have to give so much credit to his assistant Ricardo Aguirre, who really stepped up," added Jordan. "With 65 horses in training, it's a big job. Leon's owners and his fellow trainer and friend, Jackie Riddle, came in from New Mexico. Leon has a lot of support.

His daughters have been with him in Houston and many of his owners have kept in close touch.

"I visited Leon in the hospital on Saturday," said Pete Scarmardo. "He is fighting hard and we all know that it will be hard to keep Leon down."

Bard will be well-represented on Friday night with finalists running in each of the three features on the card.

Bard's first call rider Francisco Calderon, who won the 2017 Sam Houston Futurity for Bard aboard This Is An Eagle, will be highly motivated as the meet continues.

"It would mean a lot to me to win on Friday night for Leon," said Calderon.