Jockey William Easterby sustains broken collarbone after fatal faller causes race to be voided at Market Rasen

Jockey William Easterby was concussed and sustained a broken a collarbone after suffering a fall aboard the ill-fated Betty Baloo in a race which was subsequently voided.

The amateur rider is back home after being taken to hospital on Friday after the incident.

He was aboard the six-time winner who came down when trailing in the 3m handicap chase at the first fence. Runners then completed a full lap of the track before flags were raised to stop the race as Betty Baloo was attended to by raceday vets. The incident lead to a ten-minute delay to racing.

Easterby posted on X on Saturday morning: "I'm home and only have a broken collarbone to show for it. Thank you to everyone at Market Rasen and the unsung heroes in the ambulance for looking after me, and thank you for the kind messages."

Easterby has ridden 40 winners under rules on the Flat and over jumps and is a crucial part of his father Tim's training business. He is also a leading name in the northern point-to-point ranks as a trainer-rider.

A stewards' inquiry was held into the decision to void the race, and the report read: "An inquiry was held to consider the circumstances surrounding the deployment of the ‘stop race’ flag following an injury to a runner just past the winning post on the first circuit. The clerk of the course, racecourse executive, veterinary officer were interviewed. 

"The clerk of the course explained that after a runner was injured on the first circuit there was insufficient room for the runners to pass safely. The decision was made in conjunction with the head groundsman to initiate the stop race procedure and deploy the stop race flag. The stewards declared the race void."

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