Sedgefield fined after injured jockey taken to hospital in horsebox

Sedgefield Racecourse has been fined £6,500 after a jockey with a shoulder injury was taken to hospital in a horsebox because no ambulance crews remained at the venue, according to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The incident happened in March at the County Durham course. The jockey, whose identity was not disclosed, fell and suffered injuries to his left collarbone and shoulder. A doctor examined him at the course and initially cleared him to race, but later advised him to go to A&E after he said he was still in pain.

The BHA disciplinary panel found the racecourse had breached five general instructions under its Rules of Racing. It said the rules require a proper transfer to hospital accompanied by qualified medical staff, rather than, as in this case, travelling in a car. Medical staff followed behind the horsebox.

The panel also cited a telephone line that was not working and rooms it described as tired and worn, with no appearance of a clean clinical area.

Sedgefield acknowledged errors and shortcomings. An inspection in April found “significant progress” at the course, the BBC reported.