Grand National-winning jockey rushed to hospital as race delayed
Champion jockey Derek Fox was rushed to hospital after he was unseated from Ballydisco at Sedgefield. Fox, who won the Grand National in 2017 and 2023, suffered the sickening fall during the 3:10pm race. Two-time Grand National winner Fox suffered a violent fall at SedgefieldGetty The Irishman’s incident forced the remaining races at Sedgefield to be delayed. Speaking from the track, Sky Sports Racing presenter Andrew Thornton provided an update on Fox’s health. “The horse has come back in but Derek had a nasty fall,” Thornton said. “He is conscious and moving but very, very sore – it was a real case of whiplash. “They have put him on a stretcher and they are taking him straight to hospital to assess him. “He is conscious and it is precautionary but anything to do with the back or neck – it is the right thing to do.” Fox was well in the mix with Ballydisco until his race came to a shuddering halt in the 3m2½f handicap chase. The Irishman couldn’t quite steer the Lucinda Russell-trained gelding over the fourth-last fence properly. As a result, the 32-year-old was sent flying through the air and thudded his head on the turf upon landing. Unfortunately for Fox and Russell, the incident happened when Ballydisco was in the lead. Racing TVFox and Ballydisco led the race but tumbled on the fourth-last gate[/caption] It is not the first time Fox has been unseated from his horse during a race. Just over a year ago, Fox was captured limping towards an ambulance after he picked up a shoulder injury when he suffered a fall at Ayr. The Irishman even took a tumble as recently as this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Fox was unseated from Ahoy Senior, a 28-1 outsider, when he failed to guide the horse over the 15th fence. It marked the second time in three years Fox had fallen during the iconic Cheltenham event.
Champion jockey Derek Fox was rushed to hospital after he was unseated from Ballydisco at Sedgefield.
Fox, who won the Grand National in 2017 and 2023, suffered the sickening fall during the 3:10pm race.
The Irishman’s incident forced the remaining races at Sedgefield to be delayed.
Speaking from the track, Sky Sports Racing presenter Andrew Thornton provided an update on Fox’s health.
“The horse has come back in but Derek had a nasty fall,” Thornton said.
“He is conscious and moving but very, very sore – it was a real case of whiplash.
“They have put him on a stretcher and they are taking him straight to hospital to assess him.
“He is conscious and it is precautionary but anything to do with the back or neck – it is the right thing to do.”
Fox was well in the mix with Ballydisco until his race came to a shuddering halt in the 3m2½f handicap chase.
The Irishman couldn’t quite steer the Lucinda Russell-trained gelding over the fourth-last fence properly.
As a result, the 32-year-old was sent flying through the air and thudded his head on the turf upon landing.
Unfortunately for Fox and Russell, the incident happened when Ballydisco was in the lead.
It is not the first time Fox has been unseated from his horse during a race.
Just over a year ago, Fox was captured limping towards an ambulance after he picked up a shoulder injury when he suffered a fall at Ayr.
The Irishman even took a tumble as recently as this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Fox was unseated from Ahoy Senior, a 28-1 outsider, when he failed to guide the horse over the 15th fence.
It marked the second time in three years Fox had fallen during the iconic Cheltenham event.
