Paralysed jockey Freddy Tylicki – seeking £6million in damages – wins High Court case against rival Graham Gibbons

A PARALYSED jockey seeking £6million in damages has won his High Court battle against a rival.

Freddy Tylicki suffered a horror fall at Kempton in October 2016 and has been confined to a wheelchair ever since.

PATylicki has been left in a wheelchair as a result of the horrific fall[/caption]

Tylicki was paralysed after falling from his mount at Kempton in 2016

The former rider claimed in the High Court the riding of Graham Gibbons contributed to what happened.

Summing up, judge Karen Walden-Smith said: “The actions of Mr Gibbons were undertaken in reckless disregard for the safety of Mr Tylicki.”

In a statement released through his Stewart-Moore solicitors, a ‘delighted’ Tylicki said: “It has taken five years for me and my legal team to overcome the injustice of the stewards’ inquiry which took place at Kempton immediately after the race.

“Today’s result has finally provided me with closure and I look forward to putting this all behind me and moving on with my life.

“I hope though that this judgement acts as a reminder that competing in a dangerous sport like horseracing is no justification for competing with a reckless disregard for the safety of your fellow competitors.”

Numerous reports stated Tylicki was suing Gibbons for around £6m.

The actual sum of money that must be repaid is yet to be confirmed.

A second trial would deal with the damages to be awarded, unless agreed between the parties.

Tylicki, 35, claimed his injuries occurred when Gibbons, on Madame Butterfly in the 1m race, manoeuvred his horse to the inside running rail as they ran right-handed.

The former Flat jockey, who was born in Cologne, Germany, alleged this caused Madame Butterfly to move into the path of his horse Nellie Deen.

Tylicki claimed he shouted ‘Gibbo!’ to alert the jockey and ‘discourage him from persisting on his path’.

But the judge said: “Gibbons exerted real pressure on the right-hand rein of Madame Butterfly in order to bring her across Nellie Deen’s racing line and did not stop bringing her in close to the rail, even after the first collision.

“Even if, which I do not accept is credible, Mr Gibbons was unaware of the presence of Nellie Deen until he heard the shout of ‘Gibbo’ from Mr Tylicki, he certainly knew of the presence of Mr Tylicki and Nellie Deen at that time and he does nothing to pull Madame Butterfly off the rail in order to give Mr Tylicki a chance.”

The judge added Gibbons did not suffer ‘mere lapses or errors of judgement’.

She said: “This was a course of action that carried over a number of seconds and, while that might, in some circumstances, be considered a short period of time, in the heat of a horse race where jockeys are required to make split-second decisions… this was a sufficient period of time for a skilled jockey to make decisions.”

Gibbons had denied negligence and causing Tylicki’s injuries.

More to follow.

PAThe judge ruled Gibbons acted with ‘reckless disregard’[/caption]