Racing: Three jockeys hurt in pile-up

Three jockeys were taken to hospital following a five-horse pile-up at Warwick yesterday after which two of the horses had to be put down.

The accident happened on the bend about three furlongs out in the Ettington Selling Handicap when Tzar fell, bringing down Land Of Fantasy, Moon Edge and Akebono. Gilden Magic also unshipped Gary Hind.

Ricky Lake, the rider of Tzar, was taken to Warwick General Hospital with a suspected broken arm.

Others injured were Neil Chalmers (Akebono), who suffered a suspected dislocated collarbone, and Alan Daly (Moon Edge), who required an X-ray on damaged ribs. Hind and Chris Cogan (Land Of Fantasy) escaped without serious injury.

Tzar and Akebono had to be destroyed as a result of the incident.

The stewards held an inquiry and interviewed Paul Fitzsimons, the rider of Harmony Hall, who was upsides at the time of the fall. They also viewed a video.

They determined that the incident was caused by Tzar clipping the heels of Don Fayruz.

At Sandown yesterday, Richard Hills became the latest jockey to fall foul of the stewards' crackdown on not riding out to the line when he received an eight-day suspension.

Riding Broadway Score in the Sandown Summer Stakes for his brother John, Hills dropped his hands close home and was short-headed for sixth place by Fool On The Hill.

The result was not a blow to punters, but there was prize money down to sixth place. The ban runs from 13 July to 19 July and also on 21 July.