Sir Alex Ferguson, 82, suffers a broken rib celebrating a £500,000 horse racing win, after his pal hugged and jumped with him before the finish line

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he broke a rib while celebrating a £500,000 horse win in Bahrain last year. 

The former Manchester United boss celebrated gleefully with Ged Mason when Spirit Dancer surged to victory in the Group One Bahrain International Trophy.

He described the win as the ‘best moment’ of his racing life in November but has now revealed he sustained an injury during that celebration, though he doesn’t really care. 

‘I broke a rib!’ said Ferguson when asked about the celebrations.

‘He [Ged] grabbed me and we’re jumping up and down. I’m going, ‘Ged! Ged! Ged!

‘And, by the way, that was 100 yards from the winning line.’

Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer won the Bahrain International Trophy to claim a £500,000 prize

Mason added: ‘I don’t normally celebrate that quickly until it’s over the line but I did that day because he came through like a train.’

Ferguson replied: ‘I don’t mind breaking a rib if we win!’ 

Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Oisin Orr, Spirit Dancer produced a stunning turn of foot to mow down John Gosden’s Israr and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Point Lonsdale. 

The 82-year-old bred the son of Frankel and co-owns the gelding with long-time friend Mason and Fred Done.

Ferguson was overcome with emotion afterwards and it came through in his words.

‘That is the best moment (of my racing life), no doubt,’ he said. ‘When you looked at the field I was worried. Godolphin, (Aidan) O’Brien, (Andre) Fabre — they’ve all got horses here. And we are just a wee stable from Yorkshire. 

‘It was a fantastic performance. He won well. When he hit the front, Ged (Mason) just jumped on me! I didn’t want to count my chickens. I was just praying and he carried me over the line with him. He won easy.’