Four jockeys hurt and runner put down after dramatic five horse pile-up in Wolverhampton

LIbrary picture of the all weather track at Wolverhampton - 2010 Credit: PA

Four jockeys have been injured and one horse put down after a dramatic five horse pile-up at Wolverhampton racecourse.

It happened in the home straight of race six last night, which started at 7.10pm, when horse Fitz Flyer slowed down towards the end of the six-furlongs and clipped heels with another bringing the rest of the horses and riders down.

Two of the jockeys were able to walk away from the floodlit all weather course after the incident, but Richard Kingscote, who was riding Cape of Good Hope, had to be taken to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton by ambulance.

Jockey Richard Kingscote suffered a punctured in the five horse pile-up Credit: PA

The jockey's agent, Guy Jewell, confirmed that Kingscote punctured his lung, and broke his wrist, forearm, elbow and collarbone. Jewell said:

Library picture of the all weather track at Wolverhampton Racecourse Credit: PA

Clerk of Wolverhampton racecourse Fergus Cameron has since told ITV News Central he believes the jockey has been transferred to the QE Hospital in Birmingham.

Champion in 2010 and 2011 Paul Hanagan, who was riding Ortac Rock, was not taken to hospital after the race, but while driving home called in himself, where medics confirmed he'd also broken his collarbone.

The rider's agent, Richard Hale, said:

Fitz Flyer's jockey Jordan Nason suffered a fractured cheekbone. Freddy Tylicki was also involved in the collision when his horse Pandar was brought down rounding the home turn. He broke his nose and suffered a split lip and was sent to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge as a precaution.

Fellow apprentice Toby Atkinson, who was unseated on the inside of the track by Powerful Pierre, escaped unscathed.

Wolverhampton's stewards held an inquiry into the fall of Fitz Flyer, who did walk away from the fall, but later had to be put down.

One of the turns at the Wolverhampton course Credit: PA

The stewards were satisfied that no other horse or rider had contributed to the pile-up.

Clerk of the course Fergus Cameron told ITV News Central that the inquiry found no fault in the track or facility, and described the five horse collision as a 'very rare occurrence'. He went on to say that the rules and regulations governing the riders are very strict.

However this isn't the first time such a dramatic pile-up has happened at the Wolverhampton course.

In 2006 the safety of the all weather track was called into question after the death of a runner, again in a five horse pile-up.

At the time the racecourse defended its position as one of the top tracks in the country, saying it's the sport and not the surface that is dangerous.