Sedgefield Racecourse in County Durham has been fined £6,500 after an injured jockey was taken to hospital in a horsebox instead of an ambulance. The incident happened in March, and a disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) found that the racecourse had failed to comply with five "general instructions" within its Rules of Racing.
The jockey, whose identity was kept private, suffered a left clavicle and shoulder injury after a fall. He was examined by a doctor at the course and cleared to race again, but he said he was still in pain, and the doctor advised him to go to A&E. By then, all the ambulance crews had left the venue, so he was taken in a horsebox with medical staff following behind.
The BHA panel said the "general instructions" require proper transfer to hospital with accompaniment from qualified medical staff, which was not followed here as the jockey was transported in a car. The panel also noted that the jockey was in too much pain to get into the following car. Other failings included a telephone line that was not working and "tired worn rooms not conveying a clean clinical area".
The racecourse has acknowledged the "errors and shortcomings". An inspection in April revealed "significant progress", according to the BHA.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing