Maureen Haggas breaks two vertebrae in her neck after horse spooked by dog

Maureen Haggas, wife of Newmarket trainer William, has broken two bones in her neck in a fall on the gallops after her horse was spooked by a dog.

Haggas, whose father Lester Piggott died in May, was not long back from holiday at the time of her accident.

William said: “Unfortunately, Maureen has broken two vertebrae in her neck. She’s not in great shape but is getting there and is wearing a collar to help with her recovery.

“She’s resting up but is speaking to us a little and is set to see a specialist on Thursday.”

A key member of the team at Somerville Lodge and a former amateur jockey, Haggas rides out every day and is a familiar face representing the yard at the races all over the country and abroad.

The Haggas yard lies second in the trainers' championship behind the Charlie Appleby stable and is looking forward to one of its favourite meetings of the year at York next week, when their headline act is unbeaten superstar Baaeed in the Juddmonte International.

Public warning: signage on Newmarket Heath

According to Jockey Club Estates rules, dogs and the public are not allowed on the training grounds before 1pm Monday to Saturday and 11am on Sunday.

Rob Achner, head of operations at JCE, said: “I was working on call as a heath medic on Sunday and got a call and treated Maureen before we called an ambulance.

"I think she was spooked by a dog on a lead close to the Town Canter and I had to strongly inform the people that it’s an 11am curfew on Sundays.”

“We spend half our time chasing dog walkers off the heath and it's not unusual to find some of them are in the racing industry, so should know better.”

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