CUMBRIAN racehorse trainer Nicky Richards is said to be recovering in hospital following a fall earlier this week.

The 68-year-old, who is based in Greystoke, near Penrith, was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle. Mountain rescue teams were called to the incident after his horse Houston Texas 'suffered a heart attack'.

Speaking to the Racing Post on Thursday, the trainer's daughter Jo Haynes said: "Dad's still in the hospital and will be for another couple of days, I think, but he's comfortable.

"He was riding work and the horse came down with him at speed. He's probably been very lucky because he was going fairly quick when it happened. Unfortunately, the horse had a heart attack and we lost him."

Ms Haynes told the Racing Post that her father had suffered multiple injuries, such as a broken the scapula [shoulder blade] on the right side on top of his shoulder, four or five ribs and fractured his pelvis.

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Speaking to the specialist racing title, she said: "They said all the fractures look stable, so hopefully he's not going to need any surgery, which is a positive, but it's just going to take time.

"He broke his shoulder on the other side a few years ago. It happens from time to time, unfortunately, with the job we're in. He still loves working the horses, it's all he's ever known.

"We'll try to keep up the good form and keep things going as normal. He's on the phone plenty, anyway, and is still giving out the orders."

The family are said to be ‘very sad’ about the loss of Houston Texas, who won five of his 15 chase starts, including four at Carlisle.

"Houston Texas was certainly one of my dad's favourite horses, if not the favourite.

"It's very sad as he's been a good, old horse and a great character around the place as well," Ms Haynes said.

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