Blake Shinn, one of Australia’s most successful jockeys, was left in a critical condition after crashing during Race 9 at Flemington on Saturday. At the time, he was aboard the horse She’s Got Pizzazz. According to eyewitness accounts, she was squeezed out between two opponents right before the finish line. The 38-year-old jockey was publicly treated at the scene by paramedics before being loaded into an ambulance on Wednesday and taken to Rider Trauma Center.
Despite his fall, Shinn was alert and sitting up, which helped assuage fears about the severity of his injury. It led to a brief pause in the entertainment, and a dramatic first round of the day. Seconds later, an ambulance passed us, urgently tending to him in the track.
Shinn was supposed to ride Windstorm in the following race. Due to being hospitalized, he will be replaced by fellow jockey John Allen. Shinn’s reputation as a top jockey is well-established, having won the prestigious Melbourne Cup in 2008 on Viewed, along with numerous other feature races throughout his career.
Fellow jockey Kerrin McEvoy posted his thoughts and prayers to Shinn after the crash on social media.
“Firstly, I just hope Blake Shinn is OK.” – Kerrin McEvoy
The fall was unrelated to the outcome of Race 9. Dance To The Boom caused a significant upset by winning, while Surfin’ Bird, the race’s favorite, failed to finish in the top four.
Veterinary reports disclosed that Shinn’s horse, She’s Got Pizzazz, was a “lame off fore” following the race. Even this alarming finding is only scratching the surface of the danger. When word of Shinn’s fall began to circulate, those in the racing community reached out with words of encouragement and hope for his recovery.
