A Rider Was Treated on Track for Ten Minutes After a Horror Mid-Race Fall but Had a Lucky Escape on Day One of the Grand National Festival

Aintree Racecourse, April 3, 2025 – The electric atmosphere of the Randox Grand National Festival kicked off with a bang on Thursday, but it was a heart-stopping moment in the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle that left spectators holding their breath. Jockey Tom Bellamy, astride the promising Broadway Boy, endured a terrifying mid-race tumble at the demanding third-last fence, requiring a tense ten-minute on-track medical intervention. Remarkably, Bellamy emerged with what medical teams described as a “lucky escape,” suffering only a broken wrist amid the chaos that briefly halted proceedings and cast a shadow over an otherwise vibrant opening day.

The incident unfolded in the 2:20 PM feature race, a Grade 1 contest drawing a field of high-caliber juveniles eager to stamp their authority early in the festival. Broadway Boy, a six-year-old gelding trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and owned by the late Terry Burn’s syndicate, had been traveling strongly in the pack, his powerful stride suggesting he could challenge for a placing. As the runners approached the fence – a testing birch-lined obstacle that has claimed its share of victims over the years – Bellamy urged his mount forward. But in a split-second lapse of rhythm, Broadway Boy clipped the top, somersaulting violently to the turf in a heap that sent gasps rippling through the grandstands.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as “horrific,” with the horse’s legs flailing as it cleared the air before crashing down heavily, pinning Bellamy momentarily beneath its 500-kilogram frame. Racecourse medics, ever vigilant in the high-stakes world of National Hunt racing, swarmed the track within seconds, waving red flags to stop the remaining runners and forming a human barrier around the fallen pair. Bellamy, 30, lay motionless at first, his helmeted head cradled by paramedics as they assessed for spinal or head injuries – the standard protocol in such falls, where the risk of concussion or worse is ever-present.

For what felt like an eternity to the 40,000-strong crowd, the treatment stretched on. Vets attended to Broadway Boy, who lay recumbent, his flanks heaving as they administered pain relief and checked for fractures. Bellamy, conscious but wincing, was stabilized on a backboard, his radio crackling with updates to the commentary box. ITV Racing’s lead presenter, Ed Chamberlin, kept viewers informed with a measured tone: “This is why we love and fear this sport in equal measure – the bravery of these riders, the fragility of it all.” The delay, clocking in at precisely ten minutes according to official timing, tested the patience of punters and trainers alike, but no one dared complain. In the stands, fashion-forward attendees in pastel dresses and sharp suits fell silent, phones lowered as the drama played out under a mercifully clear Merseyside sky.

Finally, relief washed over the course. Broadway Boy, defying initial grim assessments, staggered to his feet with veterinary assistance, his legs trembling but intact. He was led gingerly into the horse ambulance for further scans, a precautionary measure that spared him the walk back to stables under his own steam. Bellamy, too, was stretchered off, giving a thumbs-up to concerned colleagues as he passed the winners’ enclosure. Later reports from Aintree University Hospital confirmed the extent of his injuries: a clean break to his right wrist, requiring surgery and pins, but no internal damage, no neurological concerns. “He’s a tough lad,” said Twiston-Davies in a post-race interview, his voice thick with emotion. “Tom’s been here before – remember his spill at Cheltenham last year? He’ll be back bossing rides before we know it.”

The fall wasn’t the only somber note on a day that began with unbridled optimism. Earlier, tragedy struck in the opening Manifesto Novices’ Chase when Willie Mullins’ Willy De Houelle, a hot favorite at 5-2, suffered a fatal injury mid-race. The Irish raider, ridden by Danny Mullins, crumpled at the fourth fence, snapping a foreleg in a sickening impact that prompted immediate euthanasia on compassionate grounds. Animal welfare groups, already vocal critics of the sport’s inherent risks, seized on the double blow. Peta’s UK director, Elisa Allen, issued a statement decrying the “unnecessary suffering” and calling for the festival’s fences to be further modified – a debate reignited after last year’s controversies led to reduced field sizes and bypassed obstacles.

Yet, for all the heartache, the festival’s spirit proved resilient. The remaining card delivered thrills aplenty, headlined by the triumph of Impaire Et Passe in the Bowl Chase. Ridden by Paul Townend for Willie Mullins – who, despite the earlier loss, saddled three winners on the day – the eight-year-old powered home by four lengths, his fluent jumping a stark contrast to the earlier mishaps. “Aintree rewards the bold,” Townend quipped afterward, as punters cashed in on the 7-4 shot. The Mildmay Novices’ Chase went to Ginny’s Destiny, with Harry Cobden steering the Harry Fry inmate to a gritty victory, while the Maghull Novices’ Chase saw a barnstorming finish from J J Slevin aboard Il Etait Temps.

Off the track, the social whirl was in full swing. Aintree’s revamped BoxPark precinct buzzed with brass bands belting out Human League anthems, while racegoers – from Scouse locals in feathered fascinators to high-rollers in Savile Row tailoring – toasted the sunshine and the spectacle. Hospitality suites overflowed with Champagne flutes, and the air hummed with chatter about Saturday’s main event: the Randox Grand National itself, where 34 runners, including last year’s victor I Am Maximus, will tackle the iconic 4-mile, 2½-furlong gauntlet.

As the sun dipped toward the Irish Sea, Bellamy was discharged from hospital with his arm in a cast, already joking on social media about his “new accessory for Ladies’ Day tomorrow.” Broadway Boy, scans clear, returned to his stall for rest, his connections vowing a swift return to training. In the grand tapestry of the Grand National Festival – a blend of triumph, turmoil, and unyielding passion – such escapes are the stories that linger. Day one had tested the mettle of all involved, but as the gates swung shut on a bittersweet opener, anticipation for the weekend’s crescendo burned brighter than ever. After all, in the unpredictable world of jumps racing, fortune favors not just the brave, but the incredibly lucky.