| A 52-year-old jockey has
been killed after a track work accident early this morning at Ballarat in Victoria, the
fourth tragedy to strike the industry since Saturday morning. Based at Ballarat the rider, who's name is yet to be released by police, fell
from a horse at the local racecourse at about 8am.
It is believed the rider was riding with two others at the
time of the accident and died almost instantly from neck injuries.
It is the second death to hit the Victorian racing
fraternity in the past three days.
On Saturday former jockey and veteran racing identity Lewis
"Digger" Scott was killed after a float accident at the Wangaratta racecourse.
It is understood Scott, the father of current Cranbourne
based trainer Quinton, was struck in the head area after a horse in the float became
spooked when the tailgate was lowered.
Yesterday former jockey Jamie Layt, the son of trainer
Neville and brother of present day jockey Adrian, took his own life.
Layt had attented the Queanbeyan Cup meeting where he
strapped his father's galloper and Cup third placegetter Star Varick before he was found
later in the afternoon by his shocked father.
Meanwhile, former Queensland jockey Lisa Francis died early
on Saturday morning after a desperate battle in the Toowoomba Hospital after suffering a
cardiac arrest seven days earlier.
Francis, the wife of trainer Michael Nolen, rode a number
of winners in the country Queensland circuit, but is probably best known as the travelling
companion and track rider of the Group One winning star Laurie's Lottery. |
