Top jockey Clifford Lee has emerged from a medically induced coma following a motorcycle accident during his vacation. The 29-year-old sustained a neck fracture after falling headfirst and was promptly hospitalized for treatment. With 94 victories in his most successful year, Lee faces an extended period away from horse racing, as confirmed by his employer Karl Burke.
Burke noted, “He has regained consciousness from the coma, which is a positive development. An operation to stabilize the fractures is imminent. He is resilient, and we are hopeful for a successful recovery.”
In a notable achievement in August, Lee added the Prix Morny title at Deauville to his racing accolades aboard Venetian Sun. Throughout the summer, he secured significant wins riding horses like Royal Champion, Al Qareem, and Convergent.
Having won his last four races, Lee, on a suspension break in Greece before heading to Scotland with his family, suffered the accident while riding a cross-country bike. Burke expressed surprise at learning of Lee’s motorcycle hobby, acknowledging the severity of the incident but also the potential for a worse outcome.
Lee’s horses amassed a total of £2.3 million in earnings in Britain in 2025, with Al Qareem contributing £237,857 from four triumphs. Despite not hailing from a racing family background, Lee, a native of south-east London, displayed impeccable pace judgment in securing wins in the Cambridgeshire handicap races.
Supportive messages have flooded in for Lee, who is currently hospitalized in Edinburgh. Well-wishers have praised his exceptional performance throughout the season and expressed hopes for his swift recovery from the unfortunate accident.
