Full Breakdown
Missed Field Goal Triggers Life-Saving Diagnosis for Kentucky Derby Insider
4/28/2026, 5:56:12 AM
The Seizure That Revealed a Hidden Tumor
On a December night in Lexington, Kentucky, Mark Toothaker, a stallion-season manager for Spendthrift Farm, laughed at a missed New York Giants field-goal attempt by kicker Younghoe Koo. The laughter triggered a violent seizure that sent him to the emergency department. A CT scan uncovered a tennis-ball-sized benign tumor on the left side of his brain, which had displaced his brain tissue six millimeters to the right. Surgeons at the University of Kentucky Hospital removed the growth, and Toothaker was discharged home by week’s end with no lasting neurological deficits.
Background: From Stallion Manager to Derby Day Guest
Toothaker, 59, spends his workweeks traveling nationwide to oversee breeding activities for Spendthrift Farm. Earlier that month he had flown to Louisville to watch the farm-owned colt Further Ado win the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. The Derby, scheduled for the following Saturday, will feature Further Ado, and Toothaker plans to attend as a guest of honor, crediting the missed kick for “saving his life.”
Key Figures & Groups
- Mark Toothaker – Stallion-season manager, central subject.
- Malory Toothaker – His wife, a rehabilitation-hospital nurse.
- Younghoe Koo – Former Giants kicker whose missed field goal preceded the seizure.
- Further Ado – Spendthrift Farm’s Derby-bound colt.
- Spendthrift Farm – Kentucky-based breeding operation.
- University of Kentucky Hospital – Facility where the tumor was removed.
Data & Medical Findings
- Tumor: benign, approximately the size of a tennis ball, located on the left cerebral hemisphere.
- Brain shift: 6 mm to the right.
- Symptoms: none reported prior to seizure; the event was the first indicator.
- Recovery: discharged within a week; no lasting impairment reported.
Official Statements & Responses
Mark Toothaker expressed profound gratitude, stating that the missed kick “triggered the discovery that ultimately saved my life.” He emphasized the randomness of the event, noting he could have been traveling or driving at the time. Malory Toothaker highlighted the humility of surviving such a crisis at home, describing the experience as a “best-case scenario” compared with potential injury while behind the wheel. Younghoe Koo, released by the Giants two weeks after the game, did not respond to interview requests.
Criticism & Opposition
No public criticism or opposing viewpoints were identified in the available sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’ve never felt anything like this in my life,” — Mark Toothaker
- “When you hear the news, ‘You’ve got a brain tumor,’ that’s what nobody wants to hear,” — Malory Toothaker
- “I wholeheartedly believe I was in the right spot at the right time, and he was the trigger for that happening. It was a miracle.” — Mark Toothaker
- “Really the first indication that he had a problem was the seizure — and to be in your own bed at home, not behind the wheel of a car or traveling, you’re just so humbled and feel so blessed and just fortunate that if this had to happen, it was the best-case scenario.” — Malory Toothaker
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources provide a consistent account of the medical findings and personal reactions. No alternative diagnoses, tumor classifications, or external medical opinions were reported, leaving those details unverified.
What’s Next
Mark Toothaker will attend the Kentucky Derby on Saturday to watch Further Ado compete, marking his first public appearance since the surgery. He and his wife plan to continue routine follow-up care, while Spendthrift Farm looks forward to the colt’s performance on the track.
