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Apprentice jockey placed in coma after track work fall

Australian Associated Press

Apprentice jockey Anthony Boyd has been hospitalised after a track work fall in Ballarat.

Boyd was placed in an induced coma on Thursday morning and airlifted to the Alfred Hospital amid concerns he had suffered a serious head injury.

But Victorian Jockeys Association chief executive Matt Hyland provided an encouraging update on Thursday afternoon.

“The latest update is initial scans have cleared him of any significant damage to his head, which is where the concern was,” Hyland said.

Roycey ridden by Anthony Boyd returns to scale after winning the Kings Cars BM58 Handicap at Penshurst Racecourse on December 26, 2017 in Penshurst, Australia. (Alice Laidlaw/Racing Photos via Getty Images)
Roycey ridden by Anthony Boyd returns to scale after winning the Kings Cars BM58 Handicap at Penshurst Racecourse on December 26, 2017 in Penshurst, Australia. (Alice Laidlaw/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

“He was placed in an induced coma to be airlifted down (to Melbourne).

“At this point there is no need for surgery.

“He’s still heavily sedated and they’ll gradually wean the sedation off him and hopefully it all goes to plan.”

Boyd remains in ICU for further observation.

Anthony Boyd after winning Ballarat Conveyancing BM58 Handicap at Avoca Racecourse on October 21, 2017 in Avoca, Australia. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images)
Anthony Boyd after winning Ballarat Conveyancing BM58 Handicap at Avoca Racecourse on October 21, 2017 in Avoca, Australia. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

It’s the second serious fall this week after former Melbourne Cup winner Blake Shinn broke his back at Randwick on Monday.

He’s set to be out of action for three to six months after suffering fractures to his C1 and C3 vertebrae.

The winner of the 2008 Melbourne Cup on the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed, Shinn finished second to Brenton Avdulla in last season’s Sydney premiership.

The 30-year-old has remained positive however, and thanked fans for their outpouring of support in a touching video message he posted on social media.

Blake Shinn has been touched by the outpouring of support after his fall. Pic: Twitter
Blake Shinn has been touched by the outpouring of support after his fall. Pic: Twitter

“I’m in good spirits,” Shinn revealed in the video.

“Obviously yesterday was a pretty nasty fall and I’ve been inundated with text messages, phone calls.

“It’s just shown me that I’m involved in a wonderful industry.

“It means a lot to me, it’s really helped me keep my spirits up.”