A TEENAGE jockey is fighting for his life after the 'worst fall of the year' – that left two more riders in hospital.
Lachlan Scorse, 19, was airlifted to hospital after his horse Balzando went wrong in a race at Manning Valley Race Club in Australia on Sunday.
Scorse, who has only been riding four months, was flung from his mount and smashed into the turf.
The collision and subsequent pile-up, which occurred around two furlongs from the finish, was labelled 'sickening' by local media.
Scorse was rushed to John Hunter hospital where he was placed in a coma and breathing through a ventilator.
Fellow riders Courtney Van Der Werf and Jeff Penza also suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital.
Van Der Werf smashed her collarbone while Penza broke ten ribs and had further injuries to his lung plus concussion.
Fellow rider Jeff Kehoe suffered soft tissue bruising to his left leg and right shoulders.
But it was Scorse who came off worse – although reports claim he has now woken up from a coma.
He remains in serious condition in intensive care.
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Balzando's stumble led to a 'domino effect' behind as other runners piled up.
Sadly Balzando had to be put down as a result of the injuries suffered but the three other horses involved all survived the smash-up.
On an update on Scorse, Racing NSW said in a statement released on Monday: "He is still under close observation for the next 24 hours."
NSW Jockeys Association chief executive Tony Crisafi said regarding the fall: "It happens too often.
"It's devastating when bad falls happen.
"This is probably the worst fall this year."
Racing was plunged into mourning earlier this month when 43-year-old rider Maria Alejandra Bruzual was tragically killed in a horrific mid-race fall.
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