Turf Club investigating Mikey O’Connor’s claim he was denied injury allowance

The Turf Club is investigating the accuracy of comments made by amateur jockey Mikey O'Connor who has claimed the integrity body has unfairly refused to pay him from the Qualified Riders Accident Fund after he sustained injuries in a fall.

After riding a winner at Killarney on Thursday, the Co Cork-based amateur was quoted as saying: “I injured my shoulder in a fall in April but thinking it was okay, I continued riding for four or five more rides. It turned out I’d chipped a bone on my shoulder and also had muscle wastage.

“The Turf Club refused to give me the injured jockeys’ allowance on a technicality. I had ridden after receiving the fall.” He added: “I’ve put in around €100,000 in fees from riding against the professionals into the Qualified Riders Accident Fund but due to a technicality cannot now claim money.”

Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan confirmed the body is investigating O'Connor's claims, but said its information is that O'Connor's fall occurred on March 17th, and between that date and April 26th, the jockey rode more than 20 horses, which is at variance with his Killarney comments. He also pointed out O'Connor did not sustain a fall on the final day of that period, April 26th.