11 February 2024 , 22:56
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A jockey had to be rescued by a fellow rider after getting trapped under his horse in a terrifying incident at Exeter Racecourse on Sunday.
Richie McLernon was riding Conkwell Legend in a veterans' handicap as he approached the third-to-last fence. The 10-1 shot had surged into the lead when he failed to plant his landing and could not remain upright.
The horse crumpled to the floor and McLernon was thrown from his saddle. As he rolled forward, 10-year-old's momentum sent him forward and he ended up on top of the jockey.
Thankfully, McLernon's head was above Conkwell Legend's body, but most of the horse's 500kg weight was on his rider's sides and ribs. The jockey was then assisted by fellow racer David Bass.
Bass jumped off his own horse Run To Gold to assist the stricken McLernon. Viewers had described the incident as 'brutal' and another 'horrible', but were relieved to hear both Conkwell Legend and McLernon were OK..
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"Pleased to say Conkwell Legend and Richie Mclernon ok having briefly been trapped underneath the horse. David Bass dismounted Run To Gold to assist Richie McLernon," commentator Richard Hoiles wrote on Twitter.
The incident at Exeter comes a week after 25-year-old Keagan Kirkby was killed after a fall at a race in Kent. The horse Kirkby was riding ran out into the wing of a fence and the jockey was sadly unable to be saved.
McLernon was left under his horse after the fall"It is with deep sadness that we have to report that West Country point-to-point rider, Keagan Kirkby, 25, has died following a fall at Charing point-to-point in Kent today," a statement from the Injured Jockey Fund read.
"His horse, trained locally, ran out through the wing of a fence on the second circuit of the final race. The on course Medical Team attended immediately and despite additional support from a 999 Helicopter Emergency Services Crew, he could not be saved.
"Keagan was a respected member of the Paul Nicholls team, who joined in 2019 and who had been awarded employee of the month in December 2021. We kindly ask that everyone respects the privacy of Keagan’s family and the team at Paul Nicholls Racing at this tragic time.”
The British Horseracing Authority and the Point-to-Point Authority are investigating the incident. In a joint statement, they revealed they had visited the course and insisted they would do all they can to understand what caused it.
“It is important that, with any incident such as this, we do all that we can to understand what caused it, and whether there is anything we can learn from it. There is a risk attached to racing which can never be entirely removed," the statement read.
"But we are committed to ensure that we assess every incident and use any findings to help continually improve our safety record. Our thoughts remain with Keagan Kirkby’s family and his many friends and colleagues from within the racing industry and beyond.”