Samantha Wynne in Hospital recovering from serious head injuries.

[Chief Stipe]

Wynne recovering after serious track incident

www.racingnews.co.nz Https://bitofayarn.com

Southern horsewoman Samantha Wynne is recuperating in Christchurch Hospital after sustaining serious head injuries in a horse-related incident on Saturday morning.

Wynne, who relocated to New Zealand from her native Ireland over a decade ago, has made Canterbury home, where she has been both a successful jockey and more recently a trainer.

She had enjoyed a memorable season, highlighted by three stakes victories with Pivotal Ten, who she rode in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March.

As she does on a regular basis, the 36-year-old had taken a team of horses into the track on Saturday but can’t recall anything further after she was kicked in the head and taken to hospital where she underwent surgery for a fractured skull and badly damaged ear.

Her family, friends and colleagues were relieved to hear from Wynne on Monday after a couple of days resting in hospital.

“I’ve been in hospital for the last couple of days and I’m feeling a little bit better this morning,” she said.

“I can’t really remember what happened but the girls filled me in. One of the two-year-old fillies wouldn’t walk into the tie-ups and she ran backwards and kicked me in the head. It pretty much took my ear off and I’ve got a fractured skull.

“I was knocked out for about five or six minutes and apparently when the ambulance came I was fighting them because I didn’t want to go to the hospital. Once they got me in, they gave me some good painkillers and I went into surgery that night.

“I got my ear sewed back on, they removed fragments out of the fractures and pulled a bone out of my head. They had to make sure I had no brain injuries, and I’m very lucky that I don’t think I have. There is just a lot of swelling, but hopefully that will go down and the fracture will heal.

“My partner has spoken to a lot of people and I’ve responded to a couple. I’ve been able to use my phone a little bit more today after being a bit too dizzy over the last couple of days.”

While hoping to be discharged on Monday, Wynne said it is more likely that she’ll be heading home on Tuesday and is grateful to have the support of her staff.

“I was hoping to go home today, but the doctors think it’ll be tomorrow,” she said. “I have to go for a hearing test later on and a couple of other tests as well.

“I just feel upset and frustrated because I don’t know what happened, but I’m grateful for the support I’ve had.

“I’d be lost without the girls, I’m so grateful for them. They’re just the best team that you could have. We’re doing okay.”

The news comes during an extremely tough period for the racing community, with the tragic passing of apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey last Wednesday, and fellow rider Triston Moodley also recovering from a kick to the head at the Waipa trials last Tuesday.

[All The Aces]

Thankfully Sam is alright and hopefully will be released tomorrow.

Heard today that Triston was due to be released from hospital either today or tomorrow also. 

Hoping for a quick recovery for both.  

 

[Special Agent]

"I got my ear sewed back on, they removed fragments out of the fractures and pulled a bone out of my head."

A little understated maybe.  If it wasn't for the seriousness of Sam's injuries you'd be having a chuckle reading this.  Certainly at the other end of the scale to calling someone names.  We don't need to tell Sam to toughen up.  She's already a cut above most of those who dictate a letter from Head Office.

We all know we are a part of a dangerous industry but, we mostly just get on with it.  Even accomplished horsemen and horsewomen get injured no matter what precautions are taken.  All the best to a speedy recovery to Sam and others at this time.

[Gammalite]

You can have some close calls with horses for sure. Wishing Samantha a speedy recovery.

Alas the Oz based successful NZers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young lost a popular stable worker 2 weeks ago , while on the job at Cranbourne training . tragically receiving a kick to the head from a horse,  and was unable to be revived.

A very experienced horse- lady too , Peta Tait had been a picnic jockey , a full-time track work rider and lately strapping horses at race meetings from several stables. Peta working hard behind the scenes , sadly killed in the sport we love attending to the horses she loved working with for nearly 3 decades. Peta now passed at just 43. RIP Peta.

Busuttin Racing released a statement to reflect her contributions and condolences including this 

“At this time our thoughts are with those nearest and dearest to Peta, her immediate family and many friends, both inside and outside of the racing industry, as well as her team of colleagues of whom she had maintained strong personal and professional relationships.

“Peta was an incredible person who was dedicated to her role and will leave a long-standing legacy. We are heartbroken by her loss.”