Horse sport has been reminded of the dangers of race-riding after a third jockey has died this week.
Apprentice rider Caitlin Forrest, 19, was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia on Murray Bridge Gold Cup Day yesterday (15 October).
Her horse, Colla Voce, broke down and fell, causing a pile up of four horses. Colla Voce was put down.
Libby Hopwood (Barigan Boy), Adrian Patterson (El Prado Gold) and Justin Potter (Ethabaal) also came down in the incident.
Libby was also taken to hospital. The other two riders were unhurt.
The incident has caused shock in the country as Caitlin is the second Australian jockey to die in two days.
On Tuesday (14 October) the Australian racing industry was in mourning after Carly-Mae Pye died after falling during a barrier trial at a Queensland racecourse on Monday (13 October).
The jockey had been in an induced coma in Rockhampton Base Hospital, but today Racing Queensland’s Darren Condon said she was “unable to recover from her injuries”.
Just a day later (Wednesday 15 October) 17-year-old apprentice jockey Juan Saez, from Panama, died after suffering a severe head trauma falling at a racecourse in Indiana, USA.
Juan’s horse, four-year-old Montezuma Express, reportedly clipped heels with the horse ahead of him and fell. The horse was put down.
Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, has called the deaths “a shock and a tragedy”.
“Jockeys share a unique bond wherever in the world they ply their trade, so the death of a colleague is a shock and a tragedy no matter where it happens,” he said.
“To learn of the death of three talented young jockeys in such a short space of time is both shocking and heart-breaking beyond words.
“The thoughts and prayers of the all of the PJA’s members and staff are with the family, friends and colleagues of Carly-Mae, Juan and Caitlin.”
