Two riders injured in Kempton pile-up
NEWLY crowned champion Flat jockey Jim Crowley and former Apprentice of the Year Freddie Tylicki were in hospital last night after suffering spinal injuries in a horrific fall at Kempton. German-born Tylicki, 30, was trampled by almost the entire field after his mount Nellie Dean stumbled in the 3.20. He was taken by air ambulance to the serious trauma unit at St George’s Hospital in Tooting where Crowley, who collected his prize as champion jockey two weeks ago, was conveyed by ambulance. Medics at Kempton spent more than an hour treating both riders on the track after the pile-up, in which two other horses were brought down. The day’s final four races were abandoned.
FlAt jockeys Freddie tylicki and newlycrowned champion Jim crowley were being treated for spinal injuries last night after a horrific fall at Kempton.
Both riders were taken to the serious trauma unit at St George’s Hospital in tooting, with tylicki being transferred by air ambulance.
the final four races at the meeting were abandoned after treatment on the track took more than an hour.
Both riders were conscious, with crowley able to speak to his wife lucinda by phone and tylicki giving permission for his next of kin to be appraised of the situation.
the incident happened on the final turn of the 3.20 race when tylicki’s mount, Nellie Dean, stumbled and fell and almost the entire field then galloped over the stricken rider.
crowley’s mount Electrify was brought down, as was Skara mae, ridden by Steve Drowne. ted Durcan, who injured his ankle, was unseated from Sovrano Dolce.
Barney clifford, Kempton clerk of the course, said: ‘Both were put on spinal boards and both gave their consent to me and the doctor to update their next of kin family members. i can’t say any more than that at this stage.
‘Having discussed it with the other jockeys and the stewards, the unanimous decision was to abandon racing as a mark of respect to the two lads that had been injured.’
meanwhile, Found has been promoted to 2- 1 favourite for the Breeders’ cup turf on Saturday after Aidan O’Brien scrapped plans to run her on Dirt in the $ 6million classic.
the prix de l’Arc de triomphe winner, the mount of Ryan moore, will be trying to land the $4million turf for a second year running after beating Golden Horn in the race last year at Keeneland.
Found, drawn in stall 10 of 13, will be joined in the turf by stablemate and King George winner Highland Reel (12). Found had been expected to try to become O’Brien’s first winner of the classic even though that would have meant trying to beat the top two rated horses in the world — Arrogate and california chrome — on a racing surface she has never encountered before.
Simon clare of coral said: ‘this is a logical decision by O’Brien and Found’s coolmore Stud owners to run in the turf. She will start favourite but would have been an outsider trying to defy the odds against the best Dirt horses in the world.’