A JOCKEY was labelled the ‘toughest in the entire sporting world’ by punters after becoming trapped under a 500kg racehorse – before winning a race an hour later.
Poor James Bowen had nowhere to go when Saunton Surf came down on top of him at Ffos Las.
Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.ukHero jockey James Bowen was trapped under 500kg racehorse Saunton Surf after a ‘horrific’ final-flight fall at Ffos Las racecourse[/caption]
PABrave Bowen, seen here with gaffer Nicky Henderson, was back on his feet and winning a race just one hour later[/caption]
The 11-2 chance was just a length down when coming a cropper at the final hurdle in a 2m4f handicap.
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Jockeys are usually flung from the saddle and away from the danger of a horse’s massive body when being unseated.
But Bowen was face down in the mud when Saunton Surf collapsed and rolled on top of him at the Welsh track, in a fall described by watching punters as ‘horrific’.
With his legs trapped and one foot still in an iron, thoughts immediately turned to trying to get Bowen out of danger as quickly as possible.
Fellow jockey Ben Jones rushed over to release one of his feet, but Bowen, a former champion conditional rider, couldn’t move his legs.
Matters were made worse when track workers deliberated how to remove the horse safely.
In bizarre scenes, Bowen was left helpless and stuck as a decision was eventually made to sedate the horse so she could be removed safely.
The Welsh jockey said he feared his head ‘becoming a football’ had the horse got agitated and kicked out.
But she was hoisted out of the way and Bowen finally set free, with the whole ordeal bringing a 30-minute delay to racing.
The Warren Greatrex-trained Saunton Surf, a £175,000 purchase, was unhurt in the incident.
Incredibly, Bowen then rode a winner an hour later when he steered the Greatrex-trained Keep Running to victory.
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