Racing: Baker taken to hospital after accident

George Baker was taken to hospital after his horse fell on top of him in the parade ring at Goodwood yesterday. But his condition was later described as "stable" and initial signs were that he was not seriously hurt.

The rider had just mounted Stagnite in readiness for the Bexley Nursery Handicap when the two-year-old reared up vertically and fell straight back onto him.

Screens were put up around the rider, whose leg appeared to tremble violently, to shield him from the sight of shocked racegoers. He was then taken on a stretcher to an ambulance and then on to hospital for precautionary checks.

Stagnite's trainer, Mark Usher, said: "George seemed to get badly winded. He seemed to swallow his tongue and he panicked a bit, and he may have been knocked unconscious." Stagnite was withdrawn from the race, which could not be started until the ambulance returned, leading to a 17-minute delay.

* There will be an inspection at Ripon at 8am tomorrow for Monday's meeting due to heavy rain since Tuesday.