Amateur jockey Lauren Keen-Hawkins in critical care with head injury after fall at Worcester

Amateur jockey Lauren Keen-Hawkins is in critical care after sustaining a serious head injury from a fall in a handicap hurdle at Worcester on Sunday.

The rider, who is based with Kim Bailey, came down aboard Faerie Cutlass at the third-last in the 2m4f handicap hurdle. She was knocked out and screens were put up while she was attended to and an air ambulance landed in the centre of the track.

Keen-Hawkins, who has ridden one winner under rules, was subsequently taken to hospital in Birmingham via a road ambulance.

A statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund read: “Amateur jockey Lauren Keen-Hawkins had a fall in the last race at Worcester racecourse on Sunday and was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

"Lauren has suffered a serious head injury and is now in critical care. Her parents and partner are with her and they kindly ask for privacy at this difficult time.”

The Amateur Jockeys Association said its thoughts were with Lauren and her family in a statement, which read: "It's good to know that Lauren is receiving the best possible medical care and we're most grateful as always for the pastoral care given by the IJF. We all hope and pray for Lauren’s speedy recovery." 

Bailey praised Keen-Hawkins as a key member of his team. She has had 12 rides under rules and won aboard Dandy Dan at Cheltenham's hunter chase night in 2022.

The trainer said: "Lauren has been with me for six or seven years, she does all the riding work and schooling and is a really important part of our team. She's been point-to-pointing for years as well and she won at Cheltenham."

Popular veteran Two For Gold is among the horses Keen-Hawkins has looked after for the Cheltenham stable.

She was having her third ride of the season at Worcester, having also partnered Faerie Cutlass to a second-place finish on his last start.