Invercargill reinsman Shane Walkinshaw was knocked unconscious for a short time yesterday after a nasty race day accident in Race Two at Ascot Park.
The race was initially put under a red light when Roman Rebel galloped. It was in the restart that Walkinshaw's drive Jennys Rose broke going into the first bend and went down on her nose, propelling Walkinshaw into the air. Ardtoo which was running behind Jenny's Rose went over the top
Walkinshaw was left on the track unconscious but regained conscienceness while being attended to by ambulance staff and was then taken to Southland hospital.
"I was talking to Ellie (Ellie Barron one of the first on the scene) last night because I didn't know what had happened. She said he was out for about three to four minutes. He doesn't remember the crash and he doesn't remember dropping Tyler off at school yesterday morning. He just doesn't remember yesterday but knew what year it was," said Walkinshaw's partner Shana McClelland.
She said he has a fractured eye socket, fractures around his sinus and that he also had a slight brain bled.
"They thought yesterday when they saw him because of the brain bleed, that they would have to fly him to Dunedin but the surgical team up there had a look at it and thought it would be fine for him to stay down here. They're just going to do more tests and CT scans this morning."
McClelland wasn't on-course at the time but arrived a short time later.
"Tyler had waterpolo and he was watching the race on my phone when we were driving."
Ryal Bush reinsman Peter Hunter was knocked unconscious on the same corner in April of this year.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing