Morrison head girl recuperating after Newbury incident

Barbara Dare, who suffered severe injuries to her chest and abdomen when kicked in the paddock at Newbury this month, is recuperating at home having been released from hospital.

Dare, who is head girl for trainer Hughie Morrison, had initially been taken to intensive care after sustaining broken ribs, a punctured lung and bad bruising to her spleen when kicked by the stable’s Top Beak, led up by her husband Andy, after she had helped to clear errant members of the public from the horse’s path.

Morrison said on Monday: “Barbara was released from hospital last week but she’s going to be extremely unwell for some time yet. She was actually trying to help two people who were in the wrong place and she ended up getting hurt.”

Despite her injuries, Dare remains eager to assist Morrison and his team based at East Ilsley, and the trainer added: “She lives here and it’s good to be able to see her. From her sitting room she’s already asking about the horses and making plans for feeding and looking after them with other staff.

“She’s still very involved, probably doing too much really, but she loves it and wouldn’t have it any other way.”