Racing industry in shock over death of jockey Caitlin Forrest

TEENAGE jockey Caitlin Forrest has died following a horror fall in a race at Murray Bridge. She is the second female jockey to die in two days.

Ben Hook pic - jockeys Kate Brooks (sitting) and Caitlin Forest at Morphettville AThe pair are the next 'big things' in racing with incredible results in their debut year

THE racing industry is reeling following the death of a second female jockey in two days.

Caitlin Forrest, 19, died overnight in an Adelaide hospital following a horror four horse fall in a race at Murray Bridge in South Australia yesterday.

A day earlier the life support of 26-year-old Carly-Mae Pye was switched off after she fell in a jumpout at Rockhampton on Monday.

The initial fall at Murray Bridge in Race 8 in which Caitlin Forrest died. Image: Sky News

The spate of female jockey deaths in the past year has been alarming and prompted calls for dramatic change.

Forrest, 19, was flung into the turf and run over by the pack in the race before the Murray Bridge Gold Cup.

The South Australian apprentice was semiconscious, breathing on her own and responsive when flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital but her conditioned worsened and she passed away late last night.

Horses and jockeys were thrown into, and under, the rail after the accident. Picture: SAM WUNDKE

Forrest was riding the early leader Collo Voce when the sprinter broke his leg and knuckled on the turn, sending her into the turf and leaving the following jockeys and horses nowhere to go.

Three horses and riders — El Prado Gold (Adrian Patterson), Ethbaal (Justin Potter) and Barigan Boy (Libby Hopwood) — went down in the wake.

Patterson and Potter were able to escape without any serious injury while Hopwood was taken to Flinders Hospital with a suspected broken collarbone and was being treated for concussion.

The horse Forrest was riding, Collo Voce, was put down, but the other three who went over got up and kept running.

Caitlin Forrest was a winner of Best First Year Apprentice at the SA Apprentice Jockeys Awards.

Her boyfriend, fellow jockey Scott Westover, left a tribute on Facebook.

“Today has been the worst day of my life,” he wrote.

“I know there will be an angel up there watching me everyday and riding with me.

“Love you and I’ll never forget you.”

Patterson, who’s horse, El Prado Gold, went through the running rail in the fall, tweeted out:

“Without a doubt the worst day on a racecourse. My heart goes out to Scott; Caitlin’s families words can’t describe sorry RIP”.

Jockey Libby Hopwood was injured in the fall. She was taken to Flinders Hospital with a suspected broken collarbone and was being treated for concussion.

Forrest and Pye’s deaths follow two other females, Simone Montgomerie and Desiree Gill in race falls.

Montgomerie died after a fall on Darwin Cup Day last year and Gill died following a fall at the Sunshine Coast last November.

Carly-Mae Pye was badly hurt in a fall at Rockhampton on monday and died on Tuesday.

Former top trainer Lee Freedman has tweeted that field sizes should be reduced and horses more strictly vet checked.

“My God I’ve just woken to the news of young Caitlin in SA. We must re look field sizes and take a whole new approach to interference,” Freedman tweeted.

“And Look harder at pre race vetting. If every runner is vetted pre race surely this is a positive. Cost is irrelevant. Time drastic change’’ he said in a second tweet.

Emergency teams tend to the injured at Murray Bridge. Picture: SAM WUNDKE

Top Adelaide jockey Dom Tourneur tweeted: “I believe that more stringent testing by vets is necessary prior to horses racing as too many incidents are occurring.

“Many an occasion I have known riders told by trainers to “ignore its action” prior to a race & are afraid to tell vets if they think.

“Safety should be the no 1 priority no question.”

Top Queensland jockey Chris Munce tweeted: Why are we seeing so many fatalities in aus racing? Is it our style of riding? Shape of our tracks (tightness) happy for feedback.”

My God I've just woken to the news of young Caitlin in SA. We must re look field sizes and take a whole new approach to interference.

— Lee Freedman (@freedman_lee) October 15, 2014

And look harder at pre race vetting. If every runner is vetted pre race surely this is a positive. Cost is irrelevant. Time drastic change.

— Lee Freedman (@freedman_lee) October 15, 2014

Why are we seeing so many fatalities in aus racing? Is it our style of riding? Shape of our tracks(tightness) happy for feedback

— Chris munce (@MunceC) October 15, 2014

Sombre morning. An effervescent & bubbly young ladys life cut short, cant fathom why #RIPCaitlin my ❤️ is with Yvonne Darren & Scott #tragic

— Dom Tourneur (@domjock) October 15, 2014

Originally published as Racing industry in shock over death of jockey Caitlin Forrest