Gold Coast jockey Chris Whiteley injured during race fall in Townsville

GOLD Coast jockey Chris Whiteley has been taken to hospital with suspected rib damage after suffering a fall while riding in Townsville today.

Chris Whiteley after claiming victory aboard Stage Dancer with his first ride back from injury at the Gold Coast in July. Picture: Jessica Hawkins, Trackside Photography.

GOLD Coast jockey Chris Whiteley has been taken to hospital with suspected rib damage after suffering a fall while riding in Townsville today.

Whiteley was brought crashing to the ground at the Townsville Turf Club after the Michael Geaney-trained Secret Stealth hit the deck in the Townsville Bulletin BenchMark 70 Handicap (1400m).

The three-time Gold Coast jockey premierships winner was running in second at the time and caused fellow jockey Manabu Kai and race favourite Element of Chance to crash too.

Both jockeys were conscious and Whiteley was sitting up in the moments after the incident.

They have been taken to hospital with Whiteley complaining of rib soreness.

It is understood the crash was caused by Secret Stealth tearing the muscles around its rump at the 600m mark.

Secret Stealth also has a suspected broken pelvis but hasn’t need to be euthanased.

It was Whiteley’s third ride of the day where he also secured a win in the opening race on 4YO gelding Pandaman.

It comes just a month after Whiteley returned to racing after almost 10 months on the sideline with a serious knee injury.