Australia’s top driver James Herbertson can “barely walk” and is in hospital for scans for a possible blood clot in a leg.
Herbertson felt pain in his leg for the first time on Thursday before heading to Newcastle to win the $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile last Friday evening aboard remarkable veteran pacer Bulletproof Boy.
The win earned Bulletproof Boy a place in Saturday week’s $1 million Miracle Mile and Herbertson his first ride in Australasia’s premier speed test.
But that is now in limbo.
Herbertson’s partner Ewa Justice said the matter had escalated in the past 24 hours.
“He’s not doing well,” she said. “My mother (Kasia) took him to Sunshine Hospital today and had to wheel him in.
‘At first he thought it was a hernia, but now they think it could be a blood clot.
“He has a red line down his leg and it is very hot.
“He was in hospital yesterday and they said he had to come back today for a scan.”
The scare comes just a week after Herbertson left some of the world’s best behind to romp home in the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship at Albion Park.
He rode back to Victoria before heading to Newcastle last Friday for one of the most rewarding wins of his career on one of his favorite horses.
Herbertson, 25, has ridden almost 1900 winners, won the past two Australian premierships and already has a 12-win lead over Nathan Dawson this year.
After conquering Australia, Herbertson is considering a possible move to the US next year to follow in the footsteps of other top Australasian drivers Dexter Dunn, Todd McCarthy and Andy McCarthy.
by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria
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