By Adam Pengilly
The racing industry is reeling from the death of a second jockey in one of its most important weeks after Caitlin Forrest died from injuries sustained in a horrific four-horse fall at Murray Bridge on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old South Australian apprentice crashed to the turf and was hit by the pack of horses behind her when riding in the race before the Murray Bridge Gold Cup.
Shock death: jockey Caitlin Forrest.Credit: Facebook
Forrest was semi-conscious and responsive when airlifted to hospital, but her condition deteriorated and she died from her injuries overnight.
Adrian Patterson (El Prado Gold), Justin Potter (Ethbaal) and Libby Hopwood (Barigan Boy) were all flung to the turf as well when Forrest's mount Collo Voce stumbled on the turn. Collo Voce was put down, but the other three horses regained their footing after the fall.
Forrest's death came just a day after Queensland jockey Carly-Mae Pye died from injuries she sustained when a horse she was riding in a Rockhampton jumpout on Monday broke both its front legs.
Race clubs across the country flew flags at half mast and jockeys wore black armbands on Wednesday in the wake of Pye's death.
Tributes are flowing on social media for Forrest, who was considered a top prospect in the saddle after notching up 44 wins last season.
"She was there when I was starting my stable, she worked closely together with myself and Kelly and she was really part of our family," said trainer Sam Kavanagh, who took in Forrest while she was learning her craft.
"She comes from a racing family, her dad Darren rode worked for dad and myself and her mum Yvonne broke in horses for us. We watched her grow up and my heart goes out to them and her partner Scott [Westover].
"I can still remember giving her her first ride in a trial and a race, she was always happy and had a great sense of humour. She had a great attitude and a great love for all animals.
"She was a very good young jockey and had it all in front of her, so it is just very tough to think she is gone."
Forrest's death has sparked calls for a complete review of Australian racing, which has lost four female jockeys in 14 months.
Simone Montgomerie died after falling on Darwin Cup day in August last year while mother-of-two Desiree Gill died after tumbling from a mount on the Sunshine Coast in November.
with Chris Roots