Doncaster racing delayed after two jockeys are taken to hospital following first race falls

Volnay De Thaix ridden by Nico de Boinville (left) jumps the last in front of Pine Creek ridden by Aiden Coleman to win the Download Betdaq Trading Software On betdaqtraders.com Novices' Chase at Doncaster. Two jockeys were taken to hospital after falls in the race. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Kelly was taken to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield after complaining from back pain following a fall from Little Windmill.

The 5lb-claiming conditional took a tumble from the Neil King-trained gelding at the fifth-last fence in the Betdaq - Serious About Sport Handicap Chase.

Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan said: “She was complaining of pain in her back so the doctor sent her to hospital as a precaution. Jockeys with that sort of injury have to go to a major trauma unit.”

Fellow conditional Dale Irving was unshipped from Lord Wishes at the final fence when lying a close third.

He got up and, although holding his arm, appeared to be OK until feeling unwell shortly afterwards. He was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary to be checked over.

Races two and three went off to time but the fourth race was 33 minutes late, going off at 1.53 instead of 1.20pm.

Duncan explained why racing was delayed.

“We were waiting for the return of an ambulance,” he said.

“After the first race, Lizzie Kelly was sent to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

“Also in that race Dale Irving had a fall. He walked back in. At first we didn’t think it was that serious, but he then felt unwell.

“He had a suspected collarbone injury.

“We summoned an NHS ambulance but it failed to arrive so we had to use one of our racecourse ambulances to take him to hospital (Doncaster Royal Infirmary) as well.”