Champion jockey injured in pony fall

Lisa Cropp. Photo / Richard Robinson

Top jockey Lisa Cropp was taken to hospital after falling off a pony and becoming trapped underneath.

The Waikato jockey was teaching her 13-year-old daughter, Victoria, how to ride on Tuesday afternoon in Cambridge when the pony was spooked after a truck drove past.

Her father Ron Cropp said she and the pony fell down a bank, into a fence and she became trapped under the pony. "She's very lucky to be alive. The accident was very traumatic for Victoria, as you would imagine."

She was then taken to Waikato Hospital and she feared she was paralysed because she could not move one of her arms properly, he said.

"She's had a scan and all they can find is a hairline fracture just below her ear.

"Her back's a bit off, but she's up and walking around now."

Waikato DHB spokesperson Ashleigh Peek confirmed Cropp's condition was stable and she would be released this morning.

Cropp was suspended for careless riding at Moonee Valley in Victoria last Friday night.

She had appealed the 14-meeting penalty which was to be heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board tomorrow.

The board has accepted an application from Cropp to withdraw her appeal because of the injury.

The suspension ended a successful comeback tour in Australia following suspension from New Zealand racing after methamphetamine charges.

Cropp was suspended in June 2005.

The case dragged through the courts for more than three years.

She was found guilty and disqualified from racing for nine months, fined $7500 and ordered to pay $92,000 costs.

Ms Cropp then moved to Australia to continue racing.