Injured jockey still battling for her life

patricia cachia markham

Feb 6th 2009, 21:55

Mamma Mia....Poor girl and all her family and close friends........May God be with this young jockey. Let us all unite in prayers for Sarah and all her family so that this dark cloud will have a silver lining and she will be back to practice the sport she must of loved so much.

C.Catania

Feb 6th 2009, 21:07

May God be with her & her family in these rough times.God Bless!

Oswald Tanti

Feb 6th 2009, 18:15

I do not know Sarah but seeing her helpless body on the race track in the photo, I could not help not seeking the intervention of the Almighty. In the meantime it would not be amiss if all the sporting community, administrators, spectators and participants extended their solidarity with the Borgs in this most difficult moment, by sparing just a few minutes in silence to dedicate a special prayer for Sarah's early return to the sporting fraternity and her complete recovery.

Mike Orland

Feb 6th 2009, 17:37

Whilst forwarding my sincere best wishes to Sarah and all her family, I would like to inform everyone that the Malta Racing Club has obtained a permission to hold a mass to unite in prayer at the Marsa Race Track. The mass will be celebrated next Sunday 8th February at 10:00 at the Track. All Sports enthusiasts are invited to join in prayer for Sarah. Malta Trot Racing Website - www.mtr.orlandev.com

Jim Garten

Feb 6th 2009, 12:06

As a sometime colleague of Joe, I'd like to add my sincere best wishes to him and his family, and add my prayers to those already listed for Sarah's swift and full recovery. My thoughts are with you Joe in this difficult time.

evelyn vella brincat

Feb 6th 2009, 10:06

Let us pray that with the help of Our Lady and Jesus Christ, she overcomes this. Our thoughts are with you. May Pope JP ll hear our prayers. Get well soon!

Jonathan Beacom

Feb 6th 2009, 08:45

I was at the track at the time of the accident. It happened in a split second - so quick that few people actually saw what happened!
The pic obviously was taken a second or two after the fall, so the comments about the policemen on the right are very unfair!
The officers instantly jumped into action and were by her side only seconds after this shot was taken. One stood over her to to protect her from further injury as the rest of the horses came round again at speed - other one stood between his colleague and the fast approaching horses waving frantically and directing the jockeys to the outer side of the track!
They did this at great risk to themselves and we were all very moved by their courage! - Thank God they (and others) were there as the incident could have been much worse. Our thoughts should be with Sarah Borg - Lets pray she takes a turn for the better !
I SUGGEST THAT OFFICERS WEAR LUMINOUS VESTS AT SPORTING EVENTS AS IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE JOCKEYS TO NOTICE THEM AS THEY WERE IN BLACK !

paul alford

Feb 5th 2009, 18:51

i am half maltese and was a professional jockey for twenty seven years.i have seen many accidents on the track . People must remember that race horses are very delicate than normal horses. it is law here and in europe to have a protection vest and helmet qualified to the jockey club standards.i have been to marsa race track many times and enjoyed the trotting but the track is too hard for flat horses as their legs are more delicate than the trotters, and can stumble very quickly.my wife is paralised from the chest down and her accident happened in the morning training. i hope the young lady gets better and recovers soon. ex jockey paul gaetano alford germany

Michelle Caruana

Feb 5th 2009, 18:03

I really have no words of comfort for Joe, Grace and all the family, just want to let you know that we are all fervently praying for Sarah's recovery. I am passionate about horse riding as well, and I know only too well how qucikly an accident can happen at any time to anyone. God be with you Sarah

D Fenech

Feb 5th 2009, 17:07

I do not know Sarah but what a shame!

May the good Lord protect her and help her pull through!

lawrence Cachia

Feb 5th 2009, 15:54

i wish to add , first of all my prayers go to this lady and family . Stop pls stop judging on one simple photo which was taken and printed to be bought only . Let the judge do his job . lastly may God be with the whole family is such hard times , my regards ms Borg .

G. Schmid

Feb 5th 2009, 11:53

All the best for Sarah from the entire Schmid family and we all hope that Sarah will recover very soon. As the parents of the second female jockey in Malta we are just shocked and can't believe how fast things can happen. Our feelings and thoughts are with the Borg family, Cornelia and Gernot

Joseph Borg

Feb 5th 2009, 10:01

As Sarah's father I can confirm that both the police and the Marsa Management were very efficient in their handling of Sarah's accident. The whole medical team at Mater Dei are superb and our families are united in this hour of grief. There is great support from everyone and most of Malta is praying for her. Masses have also been said out of Malta. We only hope and pray that God will not take away this gem of a girl.

Bob Hutchison

Feb 5th 2009, 00:25

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Ms. Borg. May God bless you and help you.

victor vella

Feb 4th 2009, 21:31

But why do we have to be so christian and point fingers at whoever we desire? This was an accident pure and simple, the injuries were sustained the minute she fell off the horse.Being injuried from the fall or through a hit by the horse is irrelevent.Had Sarah passed away before reaching hospital (God Forbid) then one could argue about the immediate care, but the facts are different.I know her a bit but know her stabe hand quite well and I know how dedicated they are to the sport.So please use your time and energy to pray for her so that she would recover and contine with the sport which she adores and in which she is so good.God bless you Sarah and care for you.

thea gauci

Feb 4th 2009, 20:52

i would like to express my thoughts in this difficult moment......i promise my prayers for your daughter. THEA GAUCI

Paul Borg

Feb 4th 2009, 19:05

As an official at the Malta Racing Club, I can assure everyone that all the club directors and myself were on the track a few seconds after the incident along with all the members of the police present. People who know the sport of horse racing understand how dangerous it can be for the other jockeys and the attending public to jump into the track while a race is underway. As for the police force present they assured that no one touched Sarah before the nurse and ambulance on standby at the track gave first aid and I thank them wholeheartedly. I can also vouch that assistance to Sarah was immediate and at the very risk of all of us who were authorised to be out on the track. I think that the presence of non competent people around her would have made matters worse. I close by inviting everyone to stop unnecessary finger pointing and useless arguing and unite with us in praying for Sarah's well being.

fabian muliet

Feb 4th 2009, 17:50

This pic was taken around 2 seconds after the accident, Sarah's horse is less than 5mtrs away from her, but this is not we should be worried about, a great sports person was grieviously injured, a person that even when my horse was due to compete against hers, always stopped by our stables to give a sincere helping hand. Now that's what i call sportsmanship. You'll be in our prayers Sarah. Get Well Soon :-)
Fabian.

R.Camilleri

Feb 4th 2009, 13:25

Instead of throwing accusations left, right and centre why doesnt everyone say a prayer for this young lady and her family. Hope the good Lord looks over you.

vincent a galea

Feb 4th 2009, 13:19

Having had a riding school and an avid horse lover and rider myself and all my family, I know exactly what horses are all about. I can understand the love Miss Borg had for horses. This was really an unfortunate accident and I sincerely wish that the GOOD LORD looks after her and assists her in her healing process. My family and I assure our dear Ms Grace Borg that our thoughts, hearts and prayers are with her at this most delicate moment.

D. Abdilla

Feb 4th 2009, 11:55

T.Bonello - The Horse is only 2mtrs away and giving the speed they where going she was only on the floor for about 2 seconds. I now understand why You weren't there in the first Place...

kevin camilleri

Feb 4th 2009, 11:47

May I wish Grace Borg of Exotique all the support in this horrible moment. Your daughter is very strong and she will get out of it!!

Ruth MIZZI

Feb 4th 2009, 11:46

The picture says it all - it's as if nobody cared ....

Dear Sarah, my thoughts are with you because I'm an avid horse lover myself . Hope that you get well VERY soon to continue enjoying riding your wonderful horse (who would have had more feelings towards you than anyone around!!!)

Rachel Galea

Feb 4th 2009, 11:37

Next to the injured person no but well on the way there yes. Love to know what they were there for. Same goes for all the people in the vicinity of the track. Not one of them seems to have reacted to the accident

I Gatt

Feb 4th 2009, 11:14

If everyone reading this paper says a silent prayer for this young lady, rather then passing negative comments, much more good would be done.
We are all anxious to hear of her improvement, may God be merciful on miss Borg and our thoughts also lie with her family too.

j schembri

Feb 4th 2009, 11:06

@ Tony Borg : are you expecting the uniformed persons to be right on the spot when the horse is a running a few metres away from the injured jockey? At this instant , no one is on the race track.

Jack Busuttil

Feb 4th 2009, 11:00

@ Tony Bonello

Clearly the photo was taken just an instant after to the accident, so why direct any criticism towards the two policemen? It is evident that no one in the photo had time to react to the accident and lend a helping hand to Ms. Borg.

Horse racing is one of the most dangerous sports around. Flat racing in particular is a peril, as horses reach great speeds and jockeys are riding in a precarious position. It appears that the accident happened in the bend, one of the most dangerous spots on the track. Although the track appears to be in a good state, anyone who has ever been to Marsa can realise that the track is a reclining one, making it particularly treacherous for jockeys and horses alike who must constantly balance weight and angle of running. Supposedly, this recline is a precautionary measure against the flooding of rainwater.

This is not the first time that serious accidents have occurred. I can recall several accidents, including at least three in which horses had to be put down. Perhaps it is high time that the track is levelled and the recline of the track rectified.

Tony Bonello

Feb 4th 2009, 10:34

Can I kindly ask what are those 2 uniformed personnel doing? Shouldn't they bee next to the injured person?

Sean Attard

Feb 4th 2009, 10:26

@ Ms.Longo

The fact that the speeding horse is still a few meters away from the fallen jockey implies that the photo was shot only a second after the accident happened.

Odette Longo

Feb 4th 2009, 09:56

This is a very revealing photograph.

Take a look at two particular spectators on the far right of the picture.

Relaxed or what.

@Ms. Borg..... you are in everyone's thoughts angel xx