Rider Procter Faces Long Journey After Fall at Cartmel

Amateur jockey Alice Procter is conscious following a successful operation after a heavy fall at Cartmel July 20, having suffered suspected damage to her spinal cord. The 21-year-old was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital after suffering a thoracic spinal fracture when falling from Uggy Uggy Uggy in the 2 1/8-mile female jockeys' handicap hurdle. Racing was delayed for more than an hour while Procter received treatment. While the operation was a success, she remains in intensive care and will stay in the hospital for the foreseeable future during her recovery. In a statement July 22, the Injured Jockeys Fund said: "Amateur jockey Alice Procter remains in intensive care at the Royal Preston Hospital after her fall at Cartmel on Saturday. She is conscious and able to talk for short periods of time. The surgery to stabilize her thoracic spinal fracture was successful, although there are indications of some damage to the spinal cord. "Alice will remain in hospital as plans are made for her longer-term rehabilitation." Formerly an event rider and sister to Freddie Procter, a successful jumps jockey in the United States, Procter was having her seventh ride under rules for trainer Keiran Burke and bidding for her first victory in that sphere. She has ridden and trained winners of point-to-points. She is the daughter of Doug and Lucy Procter, of The Glanvilles Stud in Dorset.