NICKY RICHARDS is recovering in hospital after breaking several bones in a nasty fall while riding on the gallops.
Cumbria-based Richards, who trained the likes of Monet’s Garden and Simply Ned to win multiple big races, broke his shoulder, pelvis and ribs while riding out at his Greystoke stable.
He was thrown to the ground when the horse he was riding, Houston Texas, sadly suffered a fatal heart attack.
Richard, 68, was taken to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle where he is said to be ‘comfortable’.
The trainer’s daughter Jo Haynes told the Racing Post: “Dad’s still in the hospital and will be for another couple of days, I think, but he’s comfortable.
“He was riding work and the horse came down with him at speed. He’s probably been very lucky because he was going fairly quick when it happened.
“He’s broken the scapula on the right side on top of his shoulder, four or five ribs and fractured his pelvis as well.
“They said all the fractures look stable, so hopefully he’s not going to need any surgery, which is a positive, but it’s just going to take time.
“He broke his shoulder on the other side a few years ago. It happens from time to time, unfortunately, with the job we’re in. He still loves working the horses, it’s all he’s ever known.
“We’ll try to keep up the good form and keep things going as normal. He’s on the phone plenty, anyway, and is still giving out the orders.”
The 10-year-old Houston Texas won five of his 15 chase starts, four of which came at the yard’s local track Carlisle, and Haynes said he was a stable favourite.
She added: “Houston Texas was certainly one of my dad’s favourite horses, if not the favourite.
“It’s very sad as he’s been a good, old horse and a great character around the place as well.”
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