The evening race meeting at Killarney was abandoned on Thursday after two jockeys were sent to hospital following serious falls. The track was due to stage an eight-race card, but medical cover became stretched after incidents in the fifth and sixth races.
Injuries in fifth and sixth races
First, amateur rider Joey Dunne was injured when his mount was unseated from Kilkee Bay, who had been badly hampered by a faller during the 3m handicap chase. Then Cheltenham Festival-winning conditional Patrick O'Brien, who had been on the deck in the same race, took another fall when Gaelic Des Chastys stumbled and unseated the rider two out in the 2m4f handicap chase. O'Brien won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle in March.
Racing was delayed while the riders received medical attention, and by the time they were dispatched to hospital the light was fading and the rest of the meeting was called off.
Stewards abandon final two races
The stewards' report said: "Due to medical cover and fading light the Raceday Stewards used their powers under Rule 10(i) and abandoned races seven and eight."
IHRB official Colman Sweeney said: "It has been a difficult night. We've had a couple of riders who have been stood down. One of them, Patrick O'Brien is conscious but he is still receiving medical attention.
"So just with the fading light, sunset is 8.43pm, a chase and a bumper it just wasn't viable to keep pushing through. We had ambulances come but riders had to be transferred so that they could go to hospital and for the safety of everyone it just wasn't feasible to keep going."
Both jockeys conscious and moving limbs
In a subsequent update on the jockeys, IHRB chief medical officer Dr Jennifer Pugh said: "Patrick O'Brien sustained a heavy fall in the sixth race at Killarney this evening which required careful and lengthy medical assessment and treatment.
"I'm pleased to report that Patrick was conscious and moving all limbs when leaving the racecourse."
She added: "Joey Dunne also required a hospital transfer from his fall earlier in the evening. Likewise Joey was conscious and moving all limbs when departing the track.
"On initial assessment neither of the two riders appear to have sustained any serious spinal or head injuries and both have been transferred to University Hospital Kerry for further assessment and overnight observation."
