Horses injured at Nicosia racetrack

Police say they are investigating a work-related accident at Agios Dhometios racetrack, where a number of jockeys and horses were injured during a Sunday race.

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According to local media, five jockeys fell to the ground during Sunday’s second race at the Agios Dhometios racetrack in West Nicosia, with three of them being injured. Two jockeys reportedly sustained serious injuries with one of them undergoing emergency surgery.

Reports did not provide detailed information about the extent of injuries for any horses involved, with local media reporting a total of five racehorses were involved in the incident.

A limping horse was seen on video finishing the race in slow speed with a jockey on its back, while two other horses without their jockeys were also able to finish the race.

The incident took place Sunday afternoon around 5:40pm, after an orange weather alert had expired at 5pm due to extreme high temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius in the interior.

Police told Knews that the incident was being investigated as a labour accident.