MICHAEL WALKER

Updated (11:30): Surgeons have had to cut open the leg of jockey Michael Walker to relieve pressure following a nasty fall at Pakenham on Thursday night.

Speaking to Racing.com from his bed at Dandenong Hospital on Friday morning, Walker explained that his leg, which he broke in the fall, remains open in two places and will be closed with further surgery on Sunday.

"They've had to cut open my leg from the knee down on both sides as there was so much pressure," Walker said.

"They had to do it because if not there was a possibility the nerves in my leg could die, and then the leg could die and then who knows what happens, they may have had to amputate.

"I'm booked in to have surgery on Sunday and the leg will remain open until then."

A shattered Walker said he was also informed on Friday morning that he has torn his ACL in his knee, an injury that can keep footballers on the sidelines for up to 12 months.

"I can't believe it, it was one of the most harmless falls I've ever been involved in and could be the worst," Walker said.

"I knew straight away I was in trouble because the pain in my leg was excruciating. I knew it was broken straight away and the pressure build up was a bit scary.

"The break is one thing, I've dealt with broken bones before, but I'm shattered about the ACL.

"I gave permission for the doctors to explore if I had any more issues in my leg and then they found the issue with the ACL.

"I've got more tests and scans to come because I'm in a fair bit of pain, I've got an MRI on my neck and shoulders, I think it should be okay, they don't think it is anything serious outside of the leg at this point."

The fall occurred in the final race at Pakenham on Thursday night, with Walker crashing to the track approaching the home bend.

He said he can recall the incident and remembers shifting to avoid a horse who was tiring through the field.

"I could see the horse coming back quickly and I tried to pop off to avoid it but I had Ben Allen to my outside and he had a rider tight to his outside, there wasn't a lot of room and I was half a length in behind and then there was slight movement and I came down," he said.

Stewards took initial evidence from Allen (Heljami), Daniel Stackhouse (Divine Rule) and Teo Nugent (Classy Pins) at Pakenham on Thursday night but have adjourned their inquiry to a later date so they can allow time before speaking to Walker.

Earlier (8:10am): Group 1-winning jockey Michael Walker is set for an extended period on the sidelines after breaking his leg in a fall at Pakenham on Thursday night.

Walker is set to undergo surgery on Friday for the break, after he clipped heels on board Insaaf and fell near the 500m in the last race of the night.

Walker, who was conscious after the fall, was transported to Dandenong Hospital complaining of pain in his neck and leg.

The Victorian Jockeys' Association confirmed Walker had suffered a broken leg on Friday morning and was set for surgery.

Stewards opened up an inquiry into the fall, which saw Insaaf clip the heels of Heljami and falter.

Initial evidence was taken from Ben Allen (Heljami), Daniel Stackhouse (Divine Rule) and Teo Nugent (Classy Pins). 

The inquiry was adjourned to a date to be fixed when stewards can interview Walker.

Insaaf showed no abnormalities in a post-race vets inspection.