Renowned jockey James Hugh Bowman, who had previously faced suspensions for careless riding in both Hong Kong and Australia, marked his return at Sha Tin on Saturday. All eyes were on him as he prepared for the Saturday’s Class One Panasonic Cup (1,400m). However, a tragic incident unfolded as his mount, “TUCHEL,” stumbled and threw him off. The Hong Kong Jockey Club confirmed that Bowman remained conscious, but unfortunately, “TUCHEL” sustained severe injuries and, despite efforts, could not be saved.
Bowman, riding “TUCHEL” as the second favorite with odds of $4.5 with betting sites, faced misfortune in the final 200 meters of the race as “TUCHEL” stumbled and collapsed, leading to Bowman being dislodged from the saddle. The incident also posed a danger to the nearby horse “FIND MY LOVE (H110),” which became entangled in the collision. Both horses fell to the ground, and local jockey Keith M L Yeung struggled to maintain control over the reins of “FIND MY LOVE (H110)” amidst the chaotic incident.
Bowman took to twitter following the incident to notify followers that he was okay but had suffered a few fractures in the incident and will remain on the sidelines for some time.
