- Incident unfolded on April 8 during trackwork
Veteran Aussie jockey Shane McGovern has had both legs amputated following a shocking trackwork accident earlier this month.
McGovern, 67, was trapped under a dead horse for six hours after nine-year-old gelding Reformist reportedly suffered an aneurysm.
The freak incident cut off blood circulation to McGovern’s legs and he also suffered a dislocated shoulder in addition to several broken ribs.
The hoop was eventually found by his wife Kim at their Charters Towers training facility in North Queensland on April 8.
Ten days later, McGovern lost his left leg, with the Australian Jockeys Association confirming more grim news on Thursday.
‘A devastating update on QLD jockey Shane McGovern, unfortunately Shane has now had both his legs amputated,’ the association’s post on X read.
Veteran Aussie jockey Shane McGovern has had both legs amputated following a shocking trackwork accident earlier this month
McGovern, 67, was trapped under a dead horse for six hours after nine-year-old gelding Reformist reportedly suffered an aneurysm
The Australian Jockeys Association confirmed the shattering news on X
‘We are sending all our prayers and love to you Shane and your family. Keep fighting Shane.’
After McGovern’s first leg was amputated, his wife was optimistic given her husband’s fighting spirit.
‘It won’t slow him down, it might just be a bump in the road,’ she told Racenet.
Racing Queensland donated $50,000 to a GoFundMe page set up for McGovern’s recovery, with the Queensland Jockeys’ Association contributing $5000.
In his career, McGovern has chalked up over 200 wins and 676 place results from 1885 starts.
Earlier this month, fellow Queensland jockeys Jasper Franklin and Yvette Lewis were injured during Gold Coast jumpouts.
Franklin’s Brisbane apprentice premiership dreams were shattered as he nurses a broken collarbone.
Lewis suffered concussion and a tailbone injury after her horse bucked during a jumpout.
