Sean Veale gives the thumbs up! (Pic – Supplied)
After a shocking fall at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, jockey Sean Veale has been discharged from hospital and will return home to Durban on Tuesday.
Veale was dislodged when his right-side stirrup leather broke when he was guiding the Justin Snaith-trained Sun Spectacular into the bend at about the 900m marker in the third race on Saturday.
While attempting to take evasive action, Craig Zackey on Enchanting Choice, who was following closely, appeared to run over the fallen rider.
Sean’s relieved wife Maxine told the Sporting Post on Monday that they would be staying in Cape Town for one more night, ‘just to be safe’ and then will fly back home on Tuesday.
“The maxillo facial surgeon has placed wires in the upper jaw to fix the fracture and redid his nose to fix the break. He has a nose pack to help with the bleeding and a shoulder sling for soft tissue damage. We will be seeing the Specialist in Durban next week to remove the nasal pack and the splint on the nose. He will be out for 6 weeks,” added Maxine.
She asked that we thank everyone who has enquired on her husband’s progress.
“He says thank you to everyone that has followed up. He is feeling the love and appreciates everyone. He also says he will be back and nothing can keep him down!” she added proudly.
While Veale was dealt with superbly by the on-course first-aid personnel, there were questions asked as to why the ambulance that was following on the inside of the runners had continued to the finish of the race, rather than attend to the stricken jockey.
Cape Racing Executive of Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post that the ambulance driver following the race had missed the fall.
“The racing operations team were instantly on the radio communications to the secondary ambulance parked on the infield. We have two ambulances on call each meeting for any potential ‘mishaps’. They drove up and tended to Mr Veale immediately. Once checked by the course doctor, Mr Veale was referred to hospital for further checks. I was with Mr Veale from the moment he left the ambulance to enter the course doctors’ rooms, until he departed to the hospital,” confirmed Vermaak.
We wish Sean a speedy recovery.
