Fans called the jockey the ‘toughest in sports’ after he got trapped under a 500kg horse and won a race an hour later.
James Bowen, a talented jockey, showed incredible bravery after a scary fall at Ffos Las racecourse. Bowen was trapped under a 500kg racehorse, Saunton Surf, but amazingly, he was back on his feet and winning a race just one hour later.
A Terrifying Fall
During a 2m4f handicap race, Bowen was riding Saunton Surf, who was just a length behind the leader. Unfortunately, the horse stumbled and fell at the final hurdle, landing directly on top of Bowen.
Most jockeys are thrown clear when they fall, but Bowen was face down in the mud, trapped under the massive weight of the horse. One of his legs was pinned, and his foot was still caught in the stirrup.
Other jockeys and race staff rushed to help. Fellow rider Ben Jones freed one of Bowen’s feet, but his legs were still stuck. To complicate things, track workers needed to safely remove the horse without causing further harm.
The decision was made to sedate Saunton Surf so she could be moved without panicking or kicking out. Bowen later admitted that he worried his head could get hurt if the horse became agitated.
After what felt like a long 30 minutes, Bowen was freed. The delay pushed back the rest of the races, but thankfully, neither Bowen nor the horse was seriously hurt.
A Remarkable Comeback
Despite the terrifying incident, Bowen didn’t let it stop him. Just an hour later, he rode in another race and won with Keep Running, a horse trained by Warren Greatrex.
The horse from the earlier fall, Saunton Surf, was also unharmed and is expected to race again,
Fans and onlookers praised Bowen’s toughness, calling him one of the bravest jockeys in the sport. His ability to bounce back from such a frightening experience and secure a win in the next race shows why he’s one of the best in the business.
