Saffie Osborne has broken arm and ribs after Windsor fall
Saffie Osborne suffered a broken arm and ribs in her horror fall at Windsor.
However, her father and trainer Jamie Osborne, a former National Hunt jockey, admits he was relieved the damage was not much worse – given the nature of Monday’s incident.
Osborne was partnering the Alexandra Dunn-trained Zeyzoun in division one of the Follow At The Races On Twitter Handicap when her mount clipped heels with Maykir, sending the 7lb claiming apprentice out of the saddle.
The whole team here is very relieved that Saffie Osborne is going to be okay after her fall. Zeyzoun also will be fine and is back in his stable.
— 𝔸𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕒 𝔻𝕦𝕟𝕟 (@AlexDunn_Racing) October 19, 2020
“She’s in Wexham Park hospital. She’s awaiting surgery and is having her left arm plated,” said Osborne senior.
“She’s got broken ribs, a little bit of potential trauma to the lung from the ribs – so they’ll monitor that, and hopefully it won’t need draining – but everything that is broken will mend, which is the important thing.
“Having watched and participated in many falls over the last 35 years, you kind of have a sense of when it’s not good – and watching that fall, it had the potential to be a not very good outcome.
“To be honest we’re all relieved that, while there are broken bones, they will mend – it could have been a lot worse.
“This year was all about her gaining as much experience as possible – so she’s experienced a little bit of everything now!
“She was going to go away this winter. We’ll put that on hold, and she’s got plenty of time to get better for the start of next season. It will take more than this to put her off.”
Osborne, an accomplished event rider, has ridden nine winners in her first season racing.
Marco Ghiani, the rider of Maykir, was handed a 10-day ban because of the incident.
Thank you to everyone, the incredible medical staff and The NHS! X pic.twitter.com/zraFWcl55I
— saffie osborne (@OsborneSaffie) October 20, 2020
The jockey later sent a tweet thanking the doctors and paramedics who have so far treated her at Windsor and Wexham Park hospital.
“Although I haven’t seen the fall and don’t remember it, I feel very lucky to have escaped with only a broken arm, broken ribs and a punctured lung,” she said.
“I would like to thank the incredible doctors and paramedics at Windsor racecourse as well as the surgeons, doctors and nurses at Wexham Park Hospital for all their care and attention that have already put me on the road to recovery.
“The surgery on my arm has gone well and I’m looking forward to getting back in the saddle.”
