A member of the Sedgefield racecourse staff had to be taken to hospital after a loose horse careered off the course during this afternoon's meeting.

Braddock Island charged off the track, over the rail and into the area between the pre-parade and parade ring - where the middle-aged man was standing.

Trainee clerk of the course Phil Tuck said it was unclear whether the horse or the rail had hit the middle-aged man, who received emergency medical attention at the course and was later taken to hospital.

There was no delay to racing.