- This topic has 24 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 11 months ago by
.
- Posts
Greektown’s salient post emphasises the need for a financially robust IJF and is a reminder to all of the resolute fund-raising carried out by those good-men-and-true, Jack Berry and John Oaksey.
Not to forget, too, Sean Cleary, who died in Ireland in November 2003 after a fall in a flat race at Galway.
Forgot to mention Seán in my post. He was the lad who’d ridden Hector’s horse to win a race at Ballinrobe. I also remember him winning the Dingle Derby back in the late nineties. His death was particularly tragic because his girlfriend had given birth to his son only a few day before his death.
I found a good article on his brother here. I think it’s a lovely gesture that Rory salutes his brother with each winner he rides.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article535009.ece
Not the most recent, but probably the most significant tragedy from a subsequent safety aspect was in July 1981, when Joe Blanks fell from his horse and collided with a concrete fixing post. He died a week later from his injuries.
Such things were soon removed from all racecourses. Seems incredible that we would let horses race within scraping distance of concrete bollards even in 1981. Talk about an accident waiting to happen.
Mike
My fading memory tells me that a similar fate befell a young jockey called Donald Fox at about the same time. Brough Scott did great work in leading the campaign to get rid of concrete posts.
I also remember a promising young jump jockey called Freddie Dixon getting killed in the 70’s.
Great post Greektown – there was a girl from my hometown killed in Newmarket whilst riding out for James Fanshawe a few years ago
PP’s Ghost : I know Donald but only by sight. He was pretty badly hurt I have been told. As far as I know he was working for Ben Hanbury but I don’t know what he’s doing now. I’ll ask around.
My memory isn’t great but I seem to remember Ernie Johnson smashing his leg against a wooden post stuck up in the middle of nowhere on the July course I think.
Irish Stamp: Yes, I remember that. I was going to mention it in my other post but felt I had gone on long enough. I think there were two girls killed in Newmarket within a fairly short time. If I remember correctly they were both, or maybe just one of them, on horses which they were struggling to hold and were carried into trees and killed.
I wouldn’t like to be thought of as sexist but I have known other examples of girls getting carted and being very lucky to escape with their lives. It is almost as frightening to watch as it must be to endure. Almost. Lads in that situation might be less worried about jumping off before it got too late.
You know that anyone who comes into racing should be aware of the dangers and, indeed, the tough life it can be with some pretty brutal , verbally anyway, lads and employers. All this said , it can be the very best job in the world. If you’re lucky enough to get a job with a good guv’nor and good lads (skilled as well as pleasant) and you have the desire to learn it can be a hugely fulfilling job. I have had some wonderful times in racing and a lot of good fun.
I wanted to bring another name back into the public gaze again and that is Sharon Murgatroyd. I’m sure most of the posters on here remember Sharon breaking her neck and becoming paralyzed. She has turned her terrible disability into a positive way of life as an author and poet.
Mind you, Sharon is a girl with a very strong spirit and sense of humour.These are parts of the darker side of racing but I am glad of the thread if only to pay tribute to some of the names who might otherwise have drifted from our consciousness. They deserve that small tribute and we should perhaps remember them on an annual basis.
Best Wishes,
GFirst of all may I say I am in no way denigrading the work of the IJF – they do absolute fantastic work for those who have suffered for the provision of the sport we love.
However it does anger me that the people who have suffered horrific injuries or paid the ultimate price have to rely on charity from the IJF.
With the top horses trading hands for millions of pounds there is plenty of money in the industry and the industry itself should be obliged to support those who are injured.
It should be a condition of a trainers licence being issued / renewed that they have adequate Employers liability insurance to provide full and adequate insurance cover to provide medical and life long support for staff injured whilst working in the employ of the trainer.That is support to provide not the minimum, but a reasonable standard of living.
Similarly every racecourse should have the same cover to cover all those working at the course.From the obvious ones like jockeys through to groundstaff who are injued by loose horses.
Failing that there could be an over-arching system managed by the BHA for which trainers pay a premium based on the number of staff they have.
Likewise the courses could be charged for each meeting they stage.
Yes such an insurance scheme will cost money but it could be funded by a percentage take out from all prize money and / or funding from the levy. Even a 1% charge on all bloodstock sales. There are plenty of ways of potential funding.
The key thing being the industry should look after its own and not rely charity.
Stable staff pay an insurance, its calledl RIABS. http://www.britishhorseracing.com/caree … _RIABS.pdf
Greektown’s salient post emphasises the need for a financially robust IJF and is a reminder to all of the resolute fund-raising carried out by those good-men-and-true, Jack Berry and John Oaksey.
Absolutely Drone, Jack should get a Knighthood for all he does and largely unheralded and as for John Oaksey and his wife, I have never seen two people more comitted to the cause and all the other statt who work away tirelessly to give back to the sport we all love.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.