Their Last Ride - The Fallen Jockeys of Australia
The purpose of this volume is not to reflect grief or sorrow on the part of those who have given their lives to riding race-horses, but rather reflect on them as individuals, and to honour them for the ultimate sacrifice each has made.
"...there are very few occupations indeed, where at least one ambulance follows you about while you're working. For me, that says it all regarding the dangers associated with their chosen profession." - John H Payne
"...there are very few occupations indeed, where at least one ambulance follows you about while you're working. For me, that says it all regarding the dangers associated with their chosen profession." - John H Payne
Excerpts from "Their Last Ride - The Fallen Jockeys of Australia"
Who Jason OLIVER
When 2002 – October 30th
Where Belmont Park, WA
How
The 33-y-o only brother of then leading Australian jockey, Damien Oliver, while riding the 2-y-o galloper, Savage Cabbage in a 400-metre trial at the Belmont racecourse on Tuesday, October 29th, was thrown from the saddle when the horse broke a leg at the winning post, skidding down the track with Jason trapped beneath the animal.
Oliver was removed to the Perth Hospital, where he died the following day having never regained consciousness, with his mother, Mrs Pat Oliver, and brother at his bedside.
The following Tuesday, his 30-y-o brother, Damien Oliver won the second of his three Melbourne Cups, on the Irish-trained galloper, Media Puzzle, with an emotion-packed crowd giving him a resounding ovation for his pluck and courage and Damien dedicating the win to his late brother. He then returned to Perth the following morning to attend his brother’s funeral at noon that day, with the burial taking place at the Karrakatta Cemetery in the same plot as his father, Ray Oliver, who had died in the Perth Hospital after a racing accident at Kalgoorlie on August 30th,1978 after five horses had fallen in the Boulder Cup.
Jason Oliver, who commenced riding in 1984, had ridden nearly 700 winners to the time of his death, with about half in the city.
Who Leanne GOODWIN
When 1998 – December 7th
Where Roma, Qld.
How
27-y-o single mother, Leanne Goodwin, became the fourth Australian female rider to lose her life in a racing accident when she passed away in hospital on Monday, December 7th. She had sustained head and internal injuries after her mount, Bachelor King, fell in the Class 1 Handicap at Roma, two days earlier.
Goodwin, the previous September, had become the first aboriginal female jockey to have won a metropolitan race in Australia when successful on her father’s horse, Getelion, at Eagle Farm, Brisbane.
Leanne’s father, Mark Goodwin, ironically, won the XXXX Desiree Gill Roma Cup with Jack’N’ Me in a photo finish on Sunday, November 16th, 2013, pipping out the Barry Gill trained Troilus Fuse, the day before Barry Gill buried his wife, jockey Desiree Gill, who had died just days before from injuries received in a race fall at the Sunshine Coast.
Who John JENKINS
When 1892 – January 2nd
Where Hopetoun, Vic.
How
After the racing program a had concluded at the New Year’s Day meeting on Friday, January 1st at Lake Coorong, near Hopetoun, 400 km’s north-west of Melbourne, a consolation race between four horses was conducted by the owners, in which John Jenkins was riding one of them, sharing the lead in the event about a half-mile (800 metres) from home.
Near that point during the race, Jenkins brother, jockey Reece Jenkins, while riding across the course after the meeting, had the two leading gallopers in the consolation race cannon into him, with Reece Jenkins being killed almost immediately, and his brother, John, dying the next day.
Both local jockeys, their brother, James, was to be killed, in the Open Steeplechase at Sandown Park, on July 28th the following year.
Who George GREEN
When 1883 – March 1st
Where Glenelg, SA
How
George Green, just 9 years and 2 months of age, had been persuaded by some jockey friends to leave his father’s home and join the stables of Glenelg trainer, R Griffiths. Subsequently without receiving the father’s permission, the trainer nevertheless, employed Green.
After exercising the steeplechaser, New Zealand, in a paddock at the rear of the stables on Tuesday, February 27th, the horse, somewhat restive and unmanageable, became entangled in loose wire, left lying on the ground after the construction of a new fence. Consequently, the horse threw the youngster to the ground, resulting in the rider fracturing his skull. At the time of the accident, Green had been working in the stables for about three weeks.
Removed to Griffith’s establishment, his father, Patrick Green, was alerted to the situation. Upon reaching the stables, he observed his son in an unconscious state, and under the care of Dr Morrison. Wanting to take his son home, the father was advised against doing so, by Dr Morrison, as the boy was too ill to be moved. Little George Green later died there on the morning of Thursday, March 1st.
A subsequent inquiry conducted at the Pier Hotel in Glenelg by the City Coroner Mr T Ward, heard that the father had been in delicate health, and had not known that his son had joined a racing stable until a friend of his son’s, in answer to an enquiry regarding the whereabouts of his son while visiting the ill father, suggested he may be working at Griffith’s stables. The father said that he had been too ill at the time to check out the friend’s allegation. He further stated that the boy, who was supposed to be at school, had been last seen by him about three weeks prior to his death, on February 13th when he left the family home without telling his sister where he was going. The father had been at work at the time.
The Coroner also heard that the boy had been neglected at home and the jury, in their finding of accidental death, added a rider which partly stated that “great censure attached to (the father for not instituting or causing necessary enquiries to be made as to his son’s whereabouts after missing him…” They also censured the trainer and his foreman for not having the consent of the father before employing the man’s son.
A funeral for the youngster left his father’s residence at Lester Street, Parkside, on the afternoon of Saturday, March 3rd, with his remains interred in the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide.
Who Thomas John FANNING
When 1882 – January 27th
Where Dubbo, NSW
How
On Anniversary Day, January 26th, a Sports Day was conducted in Dowling’s paddocks at Dubbo, where a Hack Race took place in which five horses competed. When about half way round the course, a spectator on horseback, John Devine, allegedly drunk, rushed onto the course at full speed, unable to restrain his mount, ultimately impacting with the race-leader, bringing it down, and causing two other runners to also come to grief.
One of the riders, Thomas Fanning, found to be unconscious after the accident, was conveyed to his residence, the Occidental Hotel at Dubbo where, despite the efforts of Drs Tarrant and Warren, Fanning passed away in the early hours of the following day.
Immediately after the incident, Devine was taken into custody by police, and charged with “furious riding”. At a subsequent coroner’s inquest, at which evidence showed that the course was not a proper place for a horse-race, Devine was committed for trial for manslaughter.
19-y-o Fanning, son of the late Thomas Fanning, on attaining age 21 , but for his untimely death, would have inherited some of the most valuable freehold property in Dubbo.
Who Frederick KNUDSEN
When 1923 – December 22nd
Where Gunalda, Qld.
How
Just two months after the death of William Kew at the same rural track, Fred Knudsen, aged 15 years, a pupil of the Maryborough Grammar School, spending his holidays with his parents in the Gunalda district, was fatally injured at the race-meeting at Gunalda, north of Gympie, on Wednesday, December 19th, when his mount suddenly left the course and struck a tree.
Picked up unconscious, and suffering severe head injuries, he was conveyed in a truck to Gootchie, where he was met by the Maryborough Ambulance Brigade, of which the boys father was a well-known honorary office-bearer, and taken to the Maryborough General Hospital, where he died the following Saturday.
Amateur jockey, Harold Cummings, was soon after arrested on a charge of having unlawfully killed young Knudsen, but the charges were later dismissed by the Court.
His body was conveyed by train on Saturday, to the small township of Tiaro, between Gunalda and Maryborough, his funeral conducted there on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th.
When 2002 – October 30th
Where Belmont Park, WA
How
The 33-y-o only brother of then leading Australian jockey, Damien Oliver, while riding the 2-y-o galloper, Savage Cabbage in a 400-metre trial at the Belmont racecourse on Tuesday, October 29th, was thrown from the saddle when the horse broke a leg at the winning post, skidding down the track with Jason trapped beneath the animal.
Oliver was removed to the Perth Hospital, where he died the following day having never regained consciousness, with his mother, Mrs Pat Oliver, and brother at his bedside.
The following Tuesday, his 30-y-o brother, Damien Oliver won the second of his three Melbourne Cups, on the Irish-trained galloper, Media Puzzle, with an emotion-packed crowd giving him a resounding ovation for his pluck and courage and Damien dedicating the win to his late brother. He then returned to Perth the following morning to attend his brother’s funeral at noon that day, with the burial taking place at the Karrakatta Cemetery in the same plot as his father, Ray Oliver, who had died in the Perth Hospital after a racing accident at Kalgoorlie on August 30th,1978 after five horses had fallen in the Boulder Cup.
Jason Oliver, who commenced riding in 1984, had ridden nearly 700 winners to the time of his death, with about half in the city.
Who Leanne GOODWIN
When 1998 – December 7th
Where Roma, Qld.
How
27-y-o single mother, Leanne Goodwin, became the fourth Australian female rider to lose her life in a racing accident when she passed away in hospital on Monday, December 7th. She had sustained head and internal injuries after her mount, Bachelor King, fell in the Class 1 Handicap at Roma, two days earlier.
Goodwin, the previous September, had become the first aboriginal female jockey to have won a metropolitan race in Australia when successful on her father’s horse, Getelion, at Eagle Farm, Brisbane.
Leanne’s father, Mark Goodwin, ironically, won the XXXX Desiree Gill Roma Cup with Jack’N’ Me in a photo finish on Sunday, November 16th, 2013, pipping out the Barry Gill trained Troilus Fuse, the day before Barry Gill buried his wife, jockey Desiree Gill, who had died just days before from injuries received in a race fall at the Sunshine Coast.
Who John JENKINS
When 1892 – January 2nd
Where Hopetoun, Vic.
How
After the racing program a had concluded at the New Year’s Day meeting on Friday, January 1st at Lake Coorong, near Hopetoun, 400 km’s north-west of Melbourne, a consolation race between four horses was conducted by the owners, in which John Jenkins was riding one of them, sharing the lead in the event about a half-mile (800 metres) from home.
Near that point during the race, Jenkins brother, jockey Reece Jenkins, while riding across the course after the meeting, had the two leading gallopers in the consolation race cannon into him, with Reece Jenkins being killed almost immediately, and his brother, John, dying the next day.
Both local jockeys, their brother, James, was to be killed, in the Open Steeplechase at Sandown Park, on July 28th the following year.
Who George GREEN
When 1883 – March 1st
Where Glenelg, SA
How
George Green, just 9 years and 2 months of age, had been persuaded by some jockey friends to leave his father’s home and join the stables of Glenelg trainer, R Griffiths. Subsequently without receiving the father’s permission, the trainer nevertheless, employed Green.
After exercising the steeplechaser, New Zealand, in a paddock at the rear of the stables on Tuesday, February 27th, the horse, somewhat restive and unmanageable, became entangled in loose wire, left lying on the ground after the construction of a new fence. Consequently, the horse threw the youngster to the ground, resulting in the rider fracturing his skull. At the time of the accident, Green had been working in the stables for about three weeks.
Removed to Griffith’s establishment, his father, Patrick Green, was alerted to the situation. Upon reaching the stables, he observed his son in an unconscious state, and under the care of Dr Morrison. Wanting to take his son home, the father was advised against doing so, by Dr Morrison, as the boy was too ill to be moved. Little George Green later died there on the morning of Thursday, March 1st.
A subsequent inquiry conducted at the Pier Hotel in Glenelg by the City Coroner Mr T Ward, heard that the father had been in delicate health, and had not known that his son had joined a racing stable until a friend of his son’s, in answer to an enquiry regarding the whereabouts of his son while visiting the ill father, suggested he may be working at Griffith’s stables. The father said that he had been too ill at the time to check out the friend’s allegation. He further stated that the boy, who was supposed to be at school, had been last seen by him about three weeks prior to his death, on February 13th when he left the family home without telling his sister where he was going. The father had been at work at the time.
The Coroner also heard that the boy had been neglected at home and the jury, in their finding of accidental death, added a rider which partly stated that “great censure attached to (the father for not instituting or causing necessary enquiries to be made as to his son’s whereabouts after missing him…” They also censured the trainer and his foreman for not having the consent of the father before employing the man’s son.
A funeral for the youngster left his father’s residence at Lester Street, Parkside, on the afternoon of Saturday, March 3rd, with his remains interred in the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide.
Who Thomas John FANNING
When 1882 – January 27th
Where Dubbo, NSW
How
On Anniversary Day, January 26th, a Sports Day was conducted in Dowling’s paddocks at Dubbo, where a Hack Race took place in which five horses competed. When about half way round the course, a spectator on horseback, John Devine, allegedly drunk, rushed onto the course at full speed, unable to restrain his mount, ultimately impacting with the race-leader, bringing it down, and causing two other runners to also come to grief.
One of the riders, Thomas Fanning, found to be unconscious after the accident, was conveyed to his residence, the Occidental Hotel at Dubbo where, despite the efforts of Drs Tarrant and Warren, Fanning passed away in the early hours of the following day.
Immediately after the incident, Devine was taken into custody by police, and charged with “furious riding”. At a subsequent coroner’s inquest, at which evidence showed that the course was not a proper place for a horse-race, Devine was committed for trial for manslaughter.
19-y-o Fanning, son of the late Thomas Fanning, on attaining age 21 , but for his untimely death, would have inherited some of the most valuable freehold property in Dubbo.
Who Frederick KNUDSEN
When 1923 – December 22nd
Where Gunalda, Qld.
How
Just two months after the death of William Kew at the same rural track, Fred Knudsen, aged 15 years, a pupil of the Maryborough Grammar School, spending his holidays with his parents in the Gunalda district, was fatally injured at the race-meeting at Gunalda, north of Gympie, on Wednesday, December 19th, when his mount suddenly left the course and struck a tree.
Picked up unconscious, and suffering severe head injuries, he was conveyed in a truck to Gootchie, where he was met by the Maryborough Ambulance Brigade, of which the boys father was a well-known honorary office-bearer, and taken to the Maryborough General Hospital, where he died the following Saturday.
Amateur jockey, Harold Cummings, was soon after arrested on a charge of having unlawfully killed young Knudsen, but the charges were later dismissed by the Court.
His body was conveyed by train on Saturday, to the small township of Tiaro, between Gunalda and Maryborough, his funeral conducted there on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th.