UPDATE, FRIDAY, 12.30PM: Victorian apprentice jockey Anthony Boyd is conscious and recovering in hospital following a trackwork fall at Ballarat.
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Boyd was airlifted to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital in an induced coma following the fall on Thursday morning.
Victorian Jockeys Association chief executive Matt Hyland said on Friday initial scans had cleared Boyd of serious head injuries.
"He regained consciousness this morning and is talking, but he's still pretty groggy," Hyland said.
"He's got some soreness so he'll stay in hospital for the next few days and have scans to determine the extent of those injuries."
UPDATE, THURSDAY, 2.30PM: Apprentice jockey Anthony Boyd is in a Melbourne hospital after a track work fall at Ballarat.
Boyd was placed in an induced coma on Thursday morning and airlifted to the Alfred Hospital amid concerns he had suffered a serious head injury.
But Victorian Jockeys Association chief executive Matt Hyland provided an encouraging update on Thursday afternoon.
"The latest update is initial scans have cleared him of any significant damage to his head, which is where the concern was," Hyland said.
"He was placed in an induced coma to be airlifted down (to Melbourne).
"At this point there is no need for surgery.
"He's still heavily sedated and they'll gradually wean the sedation off him and hopefully it all goes to plan."
Boyd remains in ICU for further observation.
His partner and fellow jockey, Lucinda Doodt, posted the following message on Facebook:
“On behalf of Anthony Boyd and myself and his family I’d like to thank everyone for their caring messages in regards to Ants fall at trackwork this morning.
He was transported via helicopter to The Alfred and has been put into an induced coma! After speaking to doctors things are looking positive, it’s going to take a few days of monitoring his health...
Thank you very much, we are very lucky!”
EARLIER: A Ballarat-based jockey is in a critical condition with head injuries after a fall during trackwork at Ballarat this morning.
Jockey Anthony Boyd has been airlifted to Melbourne following a fall just before 9am.
Early reports indicate Boyd was riding a horse when it stumbled and dislodged him before falling on top of him.
It is understood Boyd was in an induced coma when loaded into a helicopter at Ballarat racecourse at approximately 10:30am.
Victorian Jockeys' Association chief executive Matt Hyland said the 31-year-old was placed in an induced coma before being airlifted to the Alfred Hospital.
Boyd, a 2kg-claiming apprentice, works with the Matt Cumani stable. He only returned to race riding late last month following a lengthy lay-off due to a wrist injury.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed a man had been airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in a critical condition after an incident at Ballarat this morning.
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