Racecourse fined after jockey taken to hospital in horsebox

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 15:38 · Archive

Sedgefield Racecourse was fined £6,500 after an injured jockey was taken to hospital in a horsebox instead of an ambulance.

A jockey was taken to hospital in a horsebox after suffering a fall at Sedgefield Racecourse in County Durham on 19 March. The unnamed rider sustained a left collarbone injury in the fifth race and was examined by the racecourse doctor, who initially cleared him to compete in the next race. After finishing that race, the jockey reported increased pain and was given pain relief. The racecourse doctor then decided he needed to go to A&E, but all ambulance crews had left the track by that point.

Because the jockey's injury was too painful for him to travel by car, he was taken to hospital in a horsebox with medical staff following behind. A British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel found that Sedgefield Racecourse had failed to comply with five "general instructions" under its Rules of Racing, which require proper hospital transfer with qualified medical staff accompaniment.

The panel also identified other failures at the venue, including a telephone line not working and "tired worn rooms not conveying a clean clinical area". Sedgefield Racecourse acknowledged the "errors and shortcomings", and an inspection in April revealed "significant progress".

How it is being reported

• Sedgefield racecourse fined £6,500 after injured jockey transported to A&E in horseboxThe Co Durham track was found to have committed a number of breaches in March, the most serious of which involved the absence of an ambulance crewMirror Sport · 26 Oct, 15:43
• Sedgefield racecourse fined £6,500 after injured jockey taken to hospital in horseboxThe unnamed jockey was taken to hospital in a horsebox due to a lack of ambulance coverIndependent Sport · 26 Oct, 15:20
• Racecourse fined after jockey taken to A&E in horseboxSedgefield Racecourse is fined £6,500 after failing to comply with five 'general instructions' of safety.BBC News · 26 Oct, 13:50

In this story: Sedgefield Racecourse · British Horseracing Authority · County Durham

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