A RACE meeting was abandoned on Tuesday after a champion jokey was rushed to hospital.

Dylan Browne McMonagle suffered a serious injury after a fall in the opening race at Bellewstown.

Curragh Races - Saturday August 22ndJockey Dylan Browne McMonagle was taken to hospital after the fall at Bellewstown Credit: PA

He was riding Mosel, trained by Joseph O’Brien, when she lost her footing at the furlong pole, slipping and falling then unseating the Irishman.

McMonagle, 23, remained conscious and was treated on the track by medics.

He was then taken to hospital by ambulance.

An IHRB spokesperson said: “Dylan Browne McMonagle is conscious and being transferred to hospital in Drogheda.

“There will be a delay of approximately 10 minutes to the start of Race 2 at @BellewstownRace as parts of the track are being sanded.”

The 4.55pm scheduled race eventually got underway at 5.25pm, 30 minutes late.

However, two further horses slipped on the wet surface, dismantling their riders.

And that led to an inspection of the track with jokeys and trainers involved to examine the area on the bend.

Following the checks, the rest of the meeting was called off.

The IHRB said: “The Raceday Stewards met with a delegation of riders, the IHRB Clerk of the Course, representatives of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association and the Racecourse Manager to review an incident on the bend.

“Having reviewed the footage and considered the observations, as well as the remedial work carried out following Race 1, the Raceday Stewards, in the interest of safety for both horse and rider, made the decision to abandon the remainder of the card under the provisions of Rule 10.”

It comes as Bellewstown marked the 300th anniversary of the historic racecourse.

But those celebrations were overshadowed by the troubling events on the track.

On Friday, Gary Noonan suffered multiple broken ribs, punctures to both lungs and a broken shoulder blade in a horrific fall – and remains in hospital.

Amateur Joey Dunne also had to be hospitalised with a fractured jaw.

And Paddy O’Brien fractured both his pelvis and a vertebra in his back.

More to follow…