Malcolm Siberry, 64, of Haydock Street, Newton-le-Willows, suffered severe chest injuries after the animal bolted and knocked him down just before a race on Saturday (April 26).

The horse, called Pure Imagination, had apparently been misbehaving and was taken outside the main ring.

It started to run round the race course, without its jockey, and shot through the running rail and struck Mr Siberry, who is a part-time casual worker at the racetrack.

Doctors on site managed to resuscitate Mr Siberry until paramedics arrived.

He was taken Liverpool's Fazakerley Hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition following emergency surgery.

The father-of-one suffered a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and liver damage.

Doctors are unable to assess whether he will have brain damage until he awakes from his coma.

Mr Siberry's wife, Judith, 63, said: "It doesn't seem true really. My husband has commented on it before when he has been there.

"He said 'I don't know what it would be like if one of the horses bolted and went into you.'

"They (Haydock Park) have done everything they can to help us. It's just one of those things."

His daughter, Dawn, 33, said: "We are shocked - you don't expect something like that .

"But it was the horse at the end of the day. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The manager said the crash team just ran to my dad.

He had to be resuscitated at the scene and in the ambulance.

"It was only for the doctor on site being there - he saved my dad's life. If he wasn't there or the ambulance he would have died."

The incident happened away from the main crowd but the horse ran out of the race course and into Ashton Road, causing several cars to swerve.

A security guard followed the horse into a nearby cul-de-sac and managed to restrain it.

Dickon White, managing director of Haydock Park Racecourse, said: "There were three doctors involved who got across to Mr Siberry very quickly and managed to deal with the situation.

"Our thoughts go out to all the family involved.

"Mr Siberry is still in hospital and we very much hope we see him back at Haydock Park in the near future.

"It is an unfortunate incident. We are incredibly concerned but it does not happen very often. It is a freak accident that has happened and we hope it doesn't happen again."

A police spokesman said: "We were present at the scene and received a call at 6.50pm.

"We are unlikely to become involved in the investigation, because it is not seen as a criminal matter."