Legendary Australian jockey Damien Oliver has been taken to hospital after an incident at a regional race meeting.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver has been taken to hospital for precautionary scans after an incident at a race meeting at Warranambool on Thursday.
The horse Oliver was riding in his final race of the day, the Danny O’Brien-trained Ethewini, got down in the barriers and had to be backed out of the gates, resulting in her being a late scratching in the race.
Watch every racing meeting from around Australia via Racing.com on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now. >
The Victorian Jockeys’ Association (VJA) confirmed Oliver was heading to hospital to have a precautionary X-ray on his neck.
“After an incident in the barriers at Warrnambool, Damien Oliver is off to hospital for precautionary scans on his neck,” the VJA said.
Oliver was seen strapped to a stretcher and being wheeled into an ambulance on the side of the track. The exact nature of his injury is unclear.
Well wishes poured in for the veteran jockey. Racing presenter Michael Felgate tweeted: “Fingers crossed for Damien Oliver.
“After making a rare trip to the Bool he’s being loaded into ambulance headed to hospital for X-rays on his neck after a barrier incident.”
The 49-year-old made a rare midweek appearance at a regional meeting, but it was an unsuccessful one for Oliver, who flew to the track by helicopter. He was unable to get the win in any of his four rides on Thursday.
Oliver is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest ever jockeys and has won the Melbourne Cup three times, riding Doriemus (1995), Media Puzzle (2002) and Fiorente (2013).
He has won the Scobie Breasley Medal, which recognises excellence riding on Melbourne race tracks, 14 times.
Oliver was one of two jockeys suspended for careless riding in last year’s Melbourne Cup, ruling him out of three metro and eight provincial meetings.