Rider 'impaled' after falling from horse at Hawke's Bay Racing Centre

A person suffered serious injuries at the Hawke's Bay Racing Centre on Prospect Rd in Hastings on Saturday, February 6. Photo / File

A rider was impaled and seriously injured after falling off a horse at the Hawke's Bay Racing Centre about 8.30am on Saturday.

Emergency services were called to the Hastings Racecourse on Prospect Rd where they extricated the track work rider, who had fallen onto a metal post.

A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said he suffered serious injuries and was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital.

Hawke's Bay Racing Centre chief executive Darin Balcombe said the worker fell off when the horse went sideways during training.

"A horse went sideways while it was training, he fell off and made contact with a post, and

"A piece of metal from the post went into his ribcage," he said.

"He was taken to hospital, but luckily it didn't damage any internal organs or anything and it was removed on Saturday."

Balcombe said the rider is in a bit of pain but is recovering well.

The chief executive said there will be

An investigation will try to find out exactly how the track work rider got impaled.

"It's one of those things with horses – they're a flight animal and can do some strange things."

Balcombe added that they were looking at how to avoid a similar accident in the future.