Sussex supermodel Jodie Kidd watched as her boyfriend fell from his horse during a race.

Tarquin Southwell fell from his horse Hercules in the special celebrity flat race that rounded off a successful two-day meeting at Plumpton racecourse yesterday.

The polo player lay on the ground as the ambulance drove down the course to his aid.

The 6ft 1in model also raced to her partner's side.

He was placed on a stretcher and taken to the trainers' and members' room before being transferred to the Princess Royal hospital in Haywards Heath where medics checked for broken bones.

Jodie had been competing in the same charity race when the accident happened.

She came last after pulling up her horse Dirk Cove when she saw Tarquin fall.

Despite the scare, other riders went on to reach the finish line.

It was won by Little Fella, which was ridden by trainer Brendan Powell.

The jockeys had been taking part in the champagne montaudon celebrity flat race, which was part of the charity race day to raise funds for spinal research.

Jodie joined a host of celebrities at the event that attracted record crowds.

More than 6,000 people made their way to the racecourse for the annual Easter meeting.

The supermodel, dressed in a pink cardigan and designer jeans, had earlier presented a prize to the winning horse of the main race, the Portman Building Society Handicap Hurdle, Withthelads.

The favourite horse, Eau Pure, owned by Brighton racing stable owner Gary Moore and ridden by his son Jamie, unseated his jockey just as he was about to take the lead two fences from home.

Before the accident in the final race, Jodie said: "I love my horse racing, especially when I get the winners of the first two races.

"Racing is a fun day out and to have the opportunity of riding at Plumpton is absolutely fantastic."

Other celebrities at the meeting included Jimmy Hill, who lives at Hurstpierpoint, former government minister and television celebrity Neil Hamilton with his wife Christine, former jockey-turned trainer Richard Dunwoody and BBC sports commentator John Inverdale.

Mr Hill said he loved jump racing and had once been allowed to jump the first fence of the Grand National the Friday before the main event.

He said: "It was an exhilarating and terrifying experience but I managed to jump the first fence and pull up in time before the horse tried to jump the second. Ever since I have appreciated the bravery jockeys need to jump fences."

The veteran sports commentator and football manager is no stranger to riding, having owned a hunting horse himself.