Jockey Callum Shepherd breaks three bones in horror fall after horse suffers heart attack

The top rider’s quest for a first century of winners will not be realised as he expects to be out of action for up to eight weeks following his fall at Kempton

Top jockey Callum Shepherd’s breakthrough season has ended prematurely after a horror fall in which his mount died.

Shepherd, who enjoyed Royal Ascot success and landed the German St Leger this year, was closing in on a maiden century of winners. But he is unlikely to get the chance to add significantly to his score of 87 wins after he broke his collarbone and two bones in his back at Kempton on Wednesday.

He was riding the Camilla Poulton-trained 25-1 chance Militry Decoration in a mile and a half handicap when the nine-year-old fell 2f out. One of the gelding’s owners Carol Yeomanson posted on X, “Just got back from Kempton Park Races tonight.

“One of my horses that I have shares in had a heart attack and died during the race also threw her Jockey. Absolutely heartbroken.”

Shepherd was attended to on the track before being taken to hospital and released on Thursday to go home.

He said: “I have a broken collarbone and two fractured vertebrae, T3 and T6. I am seeing a specialist in London in the morning.

“As it stands there is no reason to think it wouldn’t be unrealistic to be back for the start of the international seasons in Dubai and Bahrain in six to eight weeks.

“George Scott is my biggest supporter and he is sending a string of horses out to Bahrain. We were fortunate there last year and it’s certainly in my mind to get back to ride there. That largely starts from December into the new year.”

Shepherd has attracted his fair share of headlines this year. He was controversially removed as the jockey of big race second favourite Ambiente Friendly days before the Derby, despite riding the horse to victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial.

He put that setback behind him to steer Isle Of Jura to an emotional triumph in the Hardwicke Stakes, then suffered facial injuries in a fall later in summer at Ascot.

In August he was handed an 18-day ban for allegedly failing to ride out a finish on a dead-heat winner, a sentence he later overturned at appeal.

He had already ridden more winners than any other season and, through his flourishing association with Isle Of Jura’s trainer George Scott, has a live Classic hopeful for next year in the shape of Champagne Stakes winner Bay City Roller.

Shepherd said: “I was closing in on 100 winners for the first time so it’s naturally disappointing but it could have been an awful lot worse. Hopefully I can get back and carry on where I left off.”