Jockeys Brad Rawiller and Brian Higgins hurt in Cranbourne race fall

CAROLYN Rawiller, wife of Group 1-winning jockey Brad who was seriously injured in a race fall, has spoken of her fear watching it on TV alone: “It looked horrific, I just wanted them to say something”.

Brad Rawiller and Brian Higgins have been injured in a fall at Cranbourne.

GROUP 1-winning jockey Brad Rawiller will miss the spring carnival and is not expected back in the saddle until early next year after a race fall his wife described as “horrific”.

GODOLPHIN GLOWING: SECOND CUP TRIUMPH

But Rawiller is likely to avoid surgery after suffering two “compressed” neck fractures (to C4 and C5) and a broken collarbone after two horses came down at Cranbourne on Sunday.

The 40-year-old hoop, who notably partnered Weekend Hussler and Darren Weir’s star Black Heart Bart to multiple Group 1 successes, was moved out of the emergency department on Monday and reunited with his wife Carolyn, and children Cleo, 7, and Lucas, 4.

Brad Rawiller is congratulated by wife Carolyn Rawiller after winning his third Ballarat Cup in a row back in 2012.

He had ridden six winners in the past week and was heading into the lucrative Flemington carnival in peak form.

Fellow jockey Brian Higgins, who crashed over the top of Rawiller’s mount, Frankly Harvey with 800m to go in Race 4 at Cranbourne, also had additional scans yesterday and is expected to be sidelined for up to two months.

Two jockeys have been taken to hospital after a horror fall in Race 4 at Cranbourne. Brad Rawiller and Brian Higgins were both conscious before they were taken to the Alfred for assessment. #7News pic.twitter.com/meScC3X4AL

— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) October 21, 2018

Carolyn Rawiller told the Herald Sun on Monday she had watched the fall unfold alone at home, with the children blissfully unaware in another room.

“It looked horrific,” she said. “My kids hijacked the TV and they don’t let me flick it back over, I was upstairs watching it on my own thankfully.

“They kept calling the race and there was just no comment on Brad or Brian, I just wanted them to say something.

“Usually the camera goes back and you see ambos but there was no update and I was panicking a bit.

“From yesterday on the floor to now that I’ve seen him twice and when he stood up (Monday), now it’s more about just give me the plan. Tell me what to do.

“He’s very lucky, it’s nothing we can’t fix before he leaves this hospital.”

Rawiller, who was severely concussed for “several minutes”, must wear a neck brace for the next 6-8 weeks.

Brad Rawiller is one of Darren Weir’s must trusted riders.

Brian Higgins looks like he has had a kick in the jaw.

A decision will be made today on whether the champion jockey requires surgery on his collarbone that “snapped at both ends”.

The Rawillers will celebrate Cleo’s seventh birthday today with cake at Brad’s bedside.

Rawiller’s family including brother Nash, Caitlin, Stacey and mother Elaine rushed to hospital following the incident.

Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief executive Matthew Hyland said the injured riders remained in good spirits.

“They’re compressed fractures so at this point he’s (Rawiller) got a neck brace on and that will be what it will be,” Hyland said.

“I think with his collarbone, one doctor said maybe surgery and the other said maybe not, it’s still in the very early stages.”

UPDATE: RVL steward James Hitchcock provides an update on fallen jockeys, Brian Higgins and Brad Rawiller.

Racing at Cranbourne has also been postponed after race 4. No more racing at Cranbourne for the remainder of the day. pic.twitter.com/J1TPY5L4wQ

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 21, 2018

Rawiller and Higgins were treated on the track by paramedics for about an hour before being taken to hospital.

“The way those guys were treated and handled on the track was outstanding,” Hyland said.

“It’s a credit to Racing Victoria that we’ve got world class medical provisions for these sorts of incidents on race day.”

Higgins suffered a collapsed lung and fractured ribs in the incident.

“It was a pretty horrendous scene (Sunday) they were fair bashed up,” Hyland said.

“You see them 24 hours later and they’ve made up a little bit of ground.

“Brad’s got some lacerations around his face and legs and Brian — on one side of his face — looks like he’s had a kick in the jaw.

“They’ve got their fair share of injuries but at the same time they’re in pretty good spirits.

“He (Brad) remembers the incident which is probably a good thing.”

Higgins, who remained in intensive care on Monday, could miss up to six weeks.

The fall came a day after visiting West Australian jockey Willie White suffered four fractured ribs and a fractured sternum in a fall at Avoca.

Brad Rawiller after riding a winner at Caulfield on Blue Sapphire Stakes Day last week.