‘The dangers are very real’: jockeys on the recent horror falls

Australian jockey Luke Nolen said the recent horror falls that have landed three riders in hospital in the past fortnight show the reality of how dangerous the sport is to those outside the racing community.

“The dangers are very real, it’s very real in our job,” Nolen told The Age.

Jamie Kah is in hospital after a fall at Flemington.Credit: Getty Images

High-profile jockey Jamie Kah remains sedated with a heavy concussion at the Royal Melbourne Hospital following a high-speed fall during Super Saturday at Flemington.

Fellow jockey Craig Williams left hospital on Sunday and is scheduled to return for surgery on Tuesday, after suffering a fractured clavicle and concussion in the fall on Saturday, the Victorian Jockey Association confirmed on Sunday.

Last weekend jockey Ethan Brown underwent three surgeries in as many days for internal abdominal injuries following a horror fall at the Australian Guineas.

Brown and fellow jockey Mark Zahra were thrown from their horses as they passed the 300-metre mark at Flemington Racecourse.

Brown was transported to Royal Melbourne Hospital after suffering internal injuries, including to his liver, with his horse, Maximillius rolling on him. Zahra was able to walk away from the incident, and both horses were OK.

“It’s very cut-throat race riding, or racing. It sort of brings out the best of us when the worst things happen,” said Nolen, who won the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership in three consecutive seasons.

“But that’s been the case every time any of these sorts of things happen … It brings the awareness of the real dangers of our job when it happens on big days like this to the outside racing community.”

Kah’s fall occurred early in the running during the group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes on Saturday. She was cleared after initial scans of any fractures or brain injury, but remains sedated due to the heavy concussion.

Her horse, Flyball, escaped with minor abrasions, whereas Dubenenko, Williams’ horse, returned with minor lacerations on both forelimbs.

Ethan Brown suffered a fall in the Australian Guineas at Flemington earlier this month.Credit: Getty Images

Nolen said as jockeys, they can’t fear falling as it wouldn’t make them good riders but when it happens, there is worry for each other.

“If you’re going out thinking about what might happen to you, you don’t ride in your normal manner … So, you have to be free of those thoughts because if you start to think like that, you shouldn’t be out there riding,” said Nolen.

“We hate to see anything happen to anyone … It is very tight-knit, and we rally around anyone who has a fall.”

Jokey Jamie Mott, who rode in the Super Saturday race at Flemington, shared similar thoughts. He said everyone just wants whoever falls to be OK but the danger of getting injured isn’t something that scares him or fellow riders.

“It can happen to anyone. No, it doesn’t scare you, but it makes you realise what really can happen [on the track],” said Mott.

He added you don’t think about it “otherwise you’d be no good out there, if you’re always thinking about something happening”.

“Obviously, we’re all really worried. As soon as a fall happens, whoever it is, and it’s relieving to find out that they’re going to be fine,” Mott said.

“[You] give your support as much as you can … We’re all a really good group of jockeys, we do rally behind each other, and definitely we’re there if anyone needs us.”