Jockey Rhys Elliott, 18, in hospital after ‘horrible incident’ at Newcastle races

TEENAGE jockey Rhys Elliott was rushed to hospital after a ‘horrible incident’ at Newcastle races on Tuesday night.

The rising star apprentice fell from 100-30 favourite Masterpainter in a mile race at the all-weather track.

Apprentice rider Rhys Elliott, 18, was rushed to hospital after a horror fall at Newcastle

Elliott was fading back into the pack when his horse suffered a terrible fall at Newcastle

https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/1846271923635794124

There was a significant delay after the 8pm race as the screens were put up around Elliott.

He was rushed to Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where his injuries were confirmed.

His agent Paul Brierly said: “Rhys has a punctured lung and small fractures on his neck and spine after his fall at Newcastle last night.

“Rhys would like to thank all the medical team at the racecourse and RVI and also big thanks for all the messages off everyone.”

Reporting last night as the situation unfolded, Sky Sports Racing host Kate Tracey said: “A horrible incident and a fall occurred there with Rhys Elliott.

“The horse was up and OK but Rhys was down on the track with the screens around him for quite a while.

“We are hearing he has been stretchered into the ambulance.”

While Simon Mapletoft added from the scene: “The official news is that Rhys is generall OK, he’s conscious and talking but has sustained injuries.

“He’s been taken off to hospital for examination but he’s conscious, talking and that’s good news after a very heavy, crashing fall.”

Elliott, who is based in County Durham and said to be ‘living his dream’ as a jockey, has 15 career wins from 181 rides.

He’s collected a decent £130,000 in prize money for connections and banged in his latest win at Musselburgh just two days before his fall.

The Newcastle stewards carried out an investigation into the Newcastle fall, which was deemed accidental.

Their report read: “Rhys Elliott, the rider of Masterpainter, had fallen approaching the final furlong. Rowan Scott, the rider of Whatwouldyouknow, and Ben Sanderson, the rider of Mr Heinz, were interviewed and shown recordings of the incident.

“It was found that the incident was accidental and was caused by Mr Heinz shifting marginally right-handed, causing a weakening Masterpainter to be moved slightly off its intended line thus giving a bump to Whatwouldyouknow, causing the gelding to become unbalanced and shifted left-handed, which in turn, moved Masterpainter back behind Mr Heinz.

“It then resulted in Masterpainter appearing to clip a heel, stumble and fall.”

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