Criticism mounts towards Jockeys' Association

on September 22, 2008 by Administrator

The Professional Jockeys’ Association has been heavily criticised recently following accusations of neglect. Mark Coumbe, an apprentice rider, broke his back after a horrendous fall at Kempton on the 30th of July. The 25 year old jockey was treated for over an hour by ten paramedics after a shocking five-horse pile-up which fatally wounded his mount, Towy Girl.

Last week, he spoke of his shock and disappointment at how the PJA have treated him since this incident. According to Coumbe, nobody from the PJA has contacted him since the day after his fall. The young jockey had to spend two weeks in hospital before being allowed home in a body brace and was lucky not to have been paralysed for life.

The PJA have arranged for Coumbe to see a consultant in order to assess when the body brace can be removed but the impression remains that this is too little, too late. Coumbe has expressed his sadness at the situation, saying that he was "shocked and disappointed" by the fact that the PJA had not got in touch to see how he was. Knowing that they cared would have been particularly welcome when he was flat on his back in hospital "unable to move or eat