Paralysed jockey Freddy Tylicki wins ‘£6million’ High Court case against rival

12/21/2021

Paralysed jockey Freddy Tylicki has won his high profile case against former weighing room rival Graham Gibbons.

Tylicki, 35, has been in a wheelchair following a mid-race fall on the flat five years ago at Kempton.

The ex-rider claimed the riding of Gibbons contributed to what happened.

It was estimated Tylicki was suing him for around £6million, although the final amount to be paid will be confirmed at a later date.

Concluding proceedings at the High Court, judge Karen Walden-Smith said: "The actions of Mr Gibbons were undertaken in reckless disregard for the safety of Mr Tylicki."

Tylicki claimed he suffered the injuries when Gibbons moved his horse, the winner Madame Butterfly, to the inside running rail on the right-handed track.

Tylicki alleged this caused the horse to move into the path of his mount Nellie Deen, who fell at around the halfway point.

Gibbons had denied any wrongdoing.

After the verdict was reached, Tylicki released a statement through his Stewart-Moore solicitors, which 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."

Tylicki claimed he shouted 'Gibbo!' to alert his colleague to 'discourage him from persisting on his path'.

Patrick Lawrence QC, representing Gibbons, said in his closing speech that “if it was anything it was a momentary misjudgement coming around the bend with an ambitious move by Mr Tylicki when in hindsight he should have taken a pull” to avoid a coming together which Gibbons was unaware would happen.

Tylicki was trampled in the fall and suffered the life-changing injuries.

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."

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