Jockey injured when horse suffered mid-race heart attack has bleeding on brain and fractured vertebrae

Ivy Lam, who is from Hong Kong, remains in a serious condition after being airlifted to hospital after the fall on Monday during the meeting at Gawler in South Australia

A young jockey who was airlifted to hospital after her horse collapsed and died in the middle of a race has suffered bleeding on the brain and fractured vertebrae.

Ivy Lam, a 23-year-old apprentice from Hong Kong, was riding in the seventh race at Gawler in South Australia on Monday when the incident occurred.

Near the halfway point of the near one mile race, her mount Jacob’s Gate began to drop back through the field and collapsed, sending the jockey to the ground. The horse died.

She was immediately attended to by on-track medics and a helicopter called to transfer her to hospital in Adelaide. The final race on the card did not go ahead as the stewards abandoned the rest of the meeting.

Lam is one of a number of Hong Kong apprentices who spend time in South Australia gaining race-riding experience

She works for the stable of Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle and had her first ride in January. She has ridden 16 winners from 139 mounts.

Amid concern for her, a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s apprentice school Amy Chan was flying to Australia to support Lam.

On Tuesday Racing SA chief executive Vaughn Lynch appeared before the media to issue an update on Lam's condition.

"Ivy's condition is still serious, she was airlifted to hospital from the Gawler racecourse yesterday, the latest news we have is that Ivy suffered some bleeding on the brain, and some fractured vertebrae, but it looks like she will avoid surgery at this stage and we're hopeful for a full recovery," Lynch said, according to Racenet.

"Racing SA and the South Australian racing industry is a tight-knit unit, especially with our apprentices, we run a very successful apprentice academy of which Ivy is a key member.

"When something like this happens it permeates through the whole racing industry, from Gordon and Damien's stables it's a very sombre mood around here today, everyone is very supportive of each other and Racing SA is determined to ensure everyone's wellbeing is looked after first and foremost.

"We commend the efforts of the first care medical staff, the Gawler racetrack staff and Racing SA stewards, they attended to Ivy and the horse really promptly, we'd like to think that's part of the reason why she's in a critical but more stable condition in ICU."

Lam’s boss Moyle said medics were very concerned for Lam as they treated her on course.

"It was quite serious there, for a long period of time, but the medical staff did a great job, she was airlifted to hospital," Moyle told RadioTAB.

"Gradually last night, as the hours ticked by, we kept getting snippets of more positive news.

"At this stage she's suffered a serious concussion, and potentially a bit of bleeding on her brain, and a fractured vertebrae at this stage.

"She regained her consciousness on the track, and once she was airlifted to the hospital she regained her consciousness again and started speaking.

"Through precaution they sedated her overnight, we've already got word back from them this morning that everything is positive and she's made good progress."

Meanwhile another jockey Laura Lafferty, who suffered a collapsed lung and injuries to her spleen and liver injured in a fall at Ballarat in Victoria last week, has been moved out of intensive care.

"Laura Lafferty has been moved from ICU into a trauma ward at the Alfred. Laura continues to improve, family appreciate all the industry support," a Victoria Jockeys’ Association statement said.