Jockey Carly-Mae Pye dies after track fall at Rockhampton

THE heartbroken partner of Rockhampton jockey Carly-Mae Pye says the couple spoke about marriage just 10 days before the riding fall which claimed her life.

Tim Cook (horse trainer) with his partner the Jockey that fell off a horse Carly-Mae Pye.

THE heartbroken partner of Rockhampton jockey Carly-Mae Pye says the couple spoke about marriage just 10 days before the riding fall which claimed her life.

Trainer Tim Cook wept as he told how he loved his partner “to the moon and back’’ and how he held her hand throughout a sad hospital vigil.

That vigil ended yesterday afternoon with the tragic news the 26-year-old jockey had passed away, sending the Australian racing industry into mourning.

Social media sites were flooded with tributes from fellow jockeys including Sydney-based hoop tommy Berry who lost his twin Nathan earlier this year.

“RIP Carly-Mae you will be sadly missed by the whole racing industry, my thoughts and prayers are with your family,’’ Berry tweeted.

Cook was only 10m away from the shocking incident at track work on Monday and was first on the scene to try to revive his partner.

A champion equestrian rider and gifted jockey, Carly-Mae was speared onto the racetrack and crushed when the horse she was riding broke down and rolled on her.

The horse ridden by Carly-Mae, which broke both its front legs and had to be euthanized, was being educated by Cook for Mackay trainer John Manzelmann.

Life changed for Cook in a blink of an eye and he says he now has a hole in his heart he cannot fill.

“Just 10 days ago, we talked about getting married,’’ Cook told The Courier-Mail.

“We talked about just going ahead and doing it, getting married with no engagement and no big fuss.

“There will be a hole in my heart forever.

“She was an extraordinary person and she had been my life partner as well as my track work rider.”

Carly-Mae Pye who died after a track fall.

Cook is shattered but has tried to be strong throughout the saddest days of his life. Before Carly-Mae died yesterday, he pledged to hold her hand in hospital until doctors told him he couldn’t hold it any more.

There won’t be a dry eye in the house at Callaghan Park on Saturday when the last winner ridden by Pye, the Cook-trained Zaha Express, starts in the fourth race.

Zaha Express won at Rockhampton on September 21 and there will be poignant and moving scenes on Saturday.

The mare will be ridden by Tracey O’Hara, a great mate of Pye’s who will wear silks with the name of her fallen friend.

Emotions are at breaking point in the racing industry as a distressed Cook spoke of his great love for his partner.

Jockey Carly-Mae Pye at Eagle Farm.

“She was a bit of a hot-headed young girl when I first met her, but she settled down and I couldn’t have been more in love,’’ Cook said.

“Sometimes at track work I had to say that she couldn’t ride one of my horses. But she never blew up or complained.

“I fell in love with how she thought of everyone else first. She was the least selfish person I ever met.

“We hardly had one argument and, in the world we live in, that is a pretty amazing thing.

“She put more into the racing industry than anyone knows and her whole life revolved around horses. She lived for horses.’’

As counsellors flew into Rockhampton to assist the tight-knit local racing community, Racing Queensland set up a trust fund.

RQ boss Darren Condon has been in Rockhampton with RQ jockey welfare manager Rachel Mason who has helped counsel upset jockeys.

“It is an incredibly sad time for everyone in racing to lose someone like Carly who was a salt of the earth racing person,’’ Condon said.

“Carly-Mae was a true champion of our sport who will be remembered as a brilliant horsewoman.

“We are providing whatever support we can to the family and our counsellor will be in Rockhampton for the majority of the week.’’