JOCKEY Angus Villiers has revealed he ‘vomited blood’ three weeks after a terrible mid-race fall.
And the young rider said he needed an operation in a London hospital ‘where they deal with a lot of stab victims’.
Top apprentice jockey Villiers took a terrifying tumble during a race at Wolverhampton last November.
The youngster was riding 11-10 favourite Arabian Warrior when the four-year-old clipped the heels of the horse in front.
Godolphin-owned Arabian Warrior somersaulted forward and landed on top of Villiers.
The jockey punctured his liver in the horrific incident, which came just four furlongs into a 1m6f contest at the track.
Villiers, who returned to racing on Wednesday, told the Racing Post about the fall and his recovery.
He said: “I remember the fall clearly. I clipped heels and went over and then I stood up and passed out.
“I blame myself but it’s not the first time something like that has happened on a racecourse.
“I punctured my liver and bruised my lung but thankfully managed to avoid any broken bones.
“I was in hospital for a week and was then out for two weeks before I started vomiting up blood.
“I went to hospital in London where they deal with a lot stab victims and they ended up doing an operation on my liver to stop the bleeding from one of my arteries.”
Villiers has won more than £300,000 as a top young rider on the Flat.
But his rapid progress was halted after the fall, which he admitted had left him frustrated.
‘Awful and frustrating’
Villiers added: “I had been so happy to get a first ride for Godolphin and so for it to go like that was pretty awful and frustrating because getting those rides helps your career a lot.”
Nevertheless, the future looks bright for the rider, who had won his last race before the fall.
He added: “I’ve hopefully got a ride for Richard Spencer on Saturday and could also be in line for a ride in the Lincoln as well for him, all being well.”
Brave jockeys risk life and limb every time they take to the track.
Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Jerry McGrath revealed he is still unable to walk more than a month after a crushing Lingfield fall.
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