Sedgefield Racecourse Fined After Injured Jockey Taken to Hospital in Horsebox
Written by Niamh Oherlihy on 27th October 2026
A racecourse in County Durham has been fined £6,500 after a jockey was transported to hospital in a horsebox due to lack of ambulance cover.
The incident took place in March after a jockey who had not been named, took a fall in the fifth race at Sedgefield Racecourse and suffered an injury to his left clavicle and shoulder.
After being examined by a doctor he was cleared to race again, but after crossing the line in his next race he complained he was still in pain, which resulted in a doctor advising him to go to A&E.
However, all ambulance staff had left the racecourse by the time this decision had been made.
The jockey who said he was in too much pain to get into a car, was taken to hospital in a horsebox with medical staff following closely behind.
It was said that there was a lack of communication between the medical team and the clerk of the course relating to the injured rider.
A separate inspection took place in Sedgefield finding that alongside the failure to provide appropriate transport to the hospital for the injured rider, they had unsatisfactory medical facilities such as an unclean clinical area and a telephone failing to work.
Photo taken off Alamy
Robin Mounsey, the head of communications at the British Horse Racing Authority said: “The independent disciplinary panel imposed a fine on the racecourse which reflected the nature of the rule breach.
“We are pleased that Sedgefield has subsequently committed to make improvements in this area, with action already taken and significant progress made”.
Irish Field journalist, Mark Boylan shared his opinions: “I feel racecourses in Britain and Ireland are facing challenges financially with threats to the industry whether that’s through gambling or reforms, so i do have sympathy for them.
But there’s still no excuse to not have well equipped medical resources for jockeys on the day. There needs to be great improvements to facilities for health and wellbeing, which is hopefully something Sedgefield are working on.”
Sedgefield Racecourse was contacted for a response but failed to provide one.
