Jockey escaped unhurt after spectacular fall at final fence

18-year-old amateur jockey Lewis Ferguson was riding the 4/7 favorite Merrion Square in the 4.20 John Dufosee Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton on Wednesday and everything seemed to be going to plan as he approached the last fence in the lead.

But things started to go wrong as Ferguson was just about to reach the hurdle, with his horse appearing to change direction at the last moment, throwing him out of the saddle. He then fell into the fence and flipped over twice, before landing on his back further down the course.
Officials began to get the screens out, anticipating Ferguson would require medical assistance, but he remarkably got to his feet and walked away unscathed. Wincanton clerk of the course Barry Johnson described it as “the worst fall I’ve ever seen.”

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He said: “Lewis is absolutely fine, unbelievably. He walked into the parade ring and was chatting away as if nothing had happened, calm as you like. It was amazing, I’ve never seen anything like it. It was certainly the worst fall I’ve ever seen and I’m just glad he’s all right because I feared the worst.”