Racing: Shally says Sox was not injured

Laura Shally, the trainer of Mr Sox whose fall at Southwell claimed the life of Richard Davis, has denied the horse was racing with a cracked pelvis.

Shally said in a statement: "In response to articles recently published regarding Mr Sox's state of health at the time of the death of his jockey Richard Davis at Southwell I would first like to express my deepest regret at the tragedy.

"There is no truth in the allegation made in certain articles that Mr Sox suffered from a fractured pelvis at the time of the accident. I'm surprised and disappointed at the comments.

"Every opportunity was given to discuss the matter with my vets prior to publication of the articles. These were not taken up. I'm co-operating with the inquiry being undertaken by the Jockey Club."

Shally refused to answer the allegation made by Andy Larnach that she had told him after he had schooled Mr Sox back in April that the gelding had cracked a pelvis. And it has emerged that local police are investigating the deaths of two horses at Shally's Allestree stable in Derbyshire. It is rumoured they were poisoned as part of a vicious hate campaign following the Davis tragedy.