- Richard Johnson fell badly on Wishful Thinking during the second day of racing at the famous event
- 34-year-old fell as his former girlfriend of four years looked on in horror with the Duchess of Cornwall
- Horse and jockey both recovering well
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Hand pressed to her mouth in horror, her face is a picture of fear and concern.
And little wonder – this is the moment Zara Phillips saw her jockey ex-boyfriend thrown from his horse at Cheltenham yesterday.
The queen's granddaughter could only watch aghast from the royal box as Richard Johnson tumbled spectacularly to the ground during his race. His horse crashed through the railings and into the crowd, drawing gasps from thousands of bystanders.
Worrying: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, left, and Zara Phillips, centre, reactin horror as Robert Johnson falls badly on Wishful Thinking on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival
Horrific: The jockey and horse collide into the barrier and photographers leaving Mr Johnson sprawled on the ground
Anxious time: Despite their stormy four-year relationship, Zara is clearly concerned about the condition of ex-boyfriend Robert Johnson
Concerned: The Duchess of Cornwall and Zara Phillips point following the horrific fall
Horrified: The Duchess of Cornwall can't hide her horror after Wishful Thinking fell at the Cheltenham Festival
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was standing beside Zara and winced as the horse fell on to Johnson, crushing his left leg.
The injured jockey was lifted into an ambulance on a stretcher, in visible pain. He was taken for emergency treatment and ruled out of the rest of the day's races.
Last night Johnson was said to be recovering well, having suffered only a soft tissue injury. 'He had a lucky escape because it looked a terrible fall,' a racing official said.
'He is obviously shaken, but physically, he is in remarkably good shape.'
Tumble: Richard Johnson, Zara Phillips' ex boyfriend, begins to go down after Wishful Thinking falls after jumping a fence
Shocking: A photographer dramatically captures the moment Wishful Thinking buckles following a jump
Racecourse horror: This image shows how fortunate Wishful Thinking was not to have been seriously injured
Nasty: Mr Johnson clearly looks concerned as he falls at high speed during the Queen Mother Champion Chase
His horse, Wishful Thinking, was also said to be recovering.
Zara and Johnson had a tumultuous relationship which lasted more than five years. They eventually split in 2003.
Johnson, 34, had been riding in the Queen Mother Champion Chase – a race beloved by the Royals. Camilla backed the winner, Finian's Rainbow, and was seen cheering in delight when her horse came in first.
Painful: Wishful Thinking and Richard Johnson fly into the inside barrier of the course
Injured: A photographer was left with a facial injury following the fall
Chaotic: Wishful Thinking is caught as Richard Johnson and a photographer lie injured on the floor. Mr Johnson fortunately suffered only minor injuries
The Duchess of Cornwall was also a winner in the fashion stakes, leading the trend for faux fur on what was an unusually chilly Ladies' Day at the festival.
She wrapped up against the cold in a chocolate brown hat with a broad fur trim and a teal boucle coat with a velvet collar.
Zara, 30, wore a brown pillbox hat trimmed with feathers and a rose corsage. She was joined at the races by her husband, rugby player Mike Tindall.
• The second day of the festival was again marred by tragedy. Abergavenny and Featherbed Lane were both put down after sustaining broken legs in the Coral Hurdle. Three horses died on the opening day.
Past and present: Zara Phillips is seen arriving at the Cheltenham Festival with husband Mike Tindall, left. She can be seen on the right with ex-boyfriend Richard Johnson in 2003
Horse racing is a cruel and unneccary sport, the horses are only kept while they are winning money, then go for horse meat, thats if they are lucky to survive a broken leg. BAN IT and dog racing as well.
- dianne, verwood, 15/3/2012 02:09
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