Since the beginnings of horse racing in Australia, 950 jockeys have lost their lives while taking part in the sport - including two just in recent months.
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Three of those identified deaths occurred right here in the Bega Valley.
Now, for the first time, self-published author John Payne has gathered all their names and stories for "Their Last Ride - The Fallen Jockeys of Australia".
Following eight years of painstaking research, Payne has recorded all of the jockeys' deaths and, in memory of each one, written a small piece about each jockey.
First published in October 2018, a second print run has now expanded to include more recent deaths, including two female jockeys in Melbourne and Darwin on consecutive days in late August.
Payne said the purpose of the book "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 their ultimate sacrifice".
Payne said the book contains details on seven jockeys who, after winning eight Melbourne Cups between them, died in racing accidents.
He also said, of the 13 deaths recorded in racing/training accidents since December 2012, 12 of them have been females.
"Further, apart from the first female jockey killed in Australia, Iris Nielsen, occurring at Lismore on March 19 1988, the other 16 deaths of female jockeys have taken place in other states and territories, she remaining the only NSW death of a lady rider," Payne said.
READ ALSO: Tracing Bega family history in print
Nearly one-third of the deaths across Australia have occurred in NSW, and the average annual deaths recorded through the decade 1897/1906 - 18 - has been reduced to fewer than two in the last decade.
"There are very few occupations where an ambulance follows you about while you're working, highlighting the dangers of their profession.
"However, the book is not intended in any way to disparage the thoroughbred racing industry. Like many sports, interests and occupations, every pursuit in life has its associated risks."
Horse racing commenced, in a manner, very early after settlement of Australia, with horses having been conveyed to Australia with the First Fleet.
On New Year's Day 1847, 25-year-old George Marsden, riding Cassandra in the Union Purse at the Drapers Club meeting at Homebush, became the first official casualty of the turf, dying in Parramatta hospital on January 16 after his mount, and another, had fallen during the event.
By the end of 1879, another 28 riders had lost their lives across Australia, with another 130 jockeys killed in racing-related accidents before the start of the 20th Century, 20 years later.
The book is not intended in any way to disparage the thoroughbred racing industry. Like many sports, interests and occupations, every pursuit in life has its associated risks
- Author John Payne
The vast numbers of jockey deaths continued until the mid-1920s, at which stage racing generally came under the regulations of major racing clubs, such as the Australian Jockey Club in NSW, and the Victoria Racing Club in Victoria, who were given charge of approving courses for racing on, licensing participants, improving safety, empowering stewards with more authority and, subsequently, enforcing the wearing of skull caps, which resulted in a rapid decline in the numbers of jockeys being killed and/or seriously injured.
However, despite all of these vitally necessary adjustments, to the present day, nearly 950 jockeys have lost their lives in racing-related incidents.
Book sales have already extended to the UK, USA and Hong Kong as well as across the length and breadth of Australia, with libraries, racing clubs, historians and book collectors being noted among the purchasers to date.
Whether or not you are a historian, book-collector, racing enthusiast, a descendant of one of the deceased, a racing official, trainer, jockey or strapper, you'll absolutely enjoy this wonderful contribution to not only the history of racing in Australia and the fatally injured jockeys, but to Australia's history in general, with one reader, a fellow author, declaring that the book "will be used as a reference book for the next 100 years".
Another, a journalist, wrote that the book is "a racing history masterpiece".
"Their Last Ride - The Fallen Jockeys of Australia" - can be purchased online at www.theirlastride.com.au.
Riders' lives lost in the Bega Valley
Who: William GARDNER
When: 1928 - January 1
Where: Bega, NSW
How:
In the company of a fellow rider named Eggleston and trainer Ingram, Gardner had gone to the Bega River about 5am on New Year's Day, a Sunday, to give some horses swimming exercise.
Gardner, a non-swimmer, took Blue Fairer into the river with the other two holding the remaining horses on the bank. Gardner shortly afterwards, fell from the horse after Blue Fairer threw back its head, which dazed the rider.
Unable to swim, Gardner was quickly in difficulties but with the others also unable to swim, all that they could do was to throw bridles and rugs toward the hapless Gardner, in a vain effort to rescue him.
However, despite their endeavours, Gardner sunk before their eyes with Ingram galloping into town for assistance, and the body later being recovered with grappling irons.
Goulburn-based Gardner, a son of William and Matilda Gardner, visiting the town to take part in the upcoming races at Bega the following Monday, was a well-known jockey throughout the West, having prepared horses from the Victoria Hotel at Forbes for a period. He left a wife and child in Goulburn, with his funeral taking place two days later.
Who: William J (Willie) HIBBURD jnr
When: 1913 - January 4
Where: Bega, NSW
How:
29-year-old Hibburd, son of Bega trainer William Hibburd snr and his wife Emma (nee Rixon), was badly injured when he fell while riding Mr Thomas Underhill's Tickles in the high weight handicap, the second race of the day at the Bega races on Thursday, January 2. He died the following Saturday at the Bega Hospital without regaining consciousness, despite treatment rendered by Dr Marshall.
The ride on Tickles was Hibburd's 200th race-ride, having won on 66 occasions and being unplaced only on 44 occasions. He had won the opening handicap on Tickles on the first day of the meeting, the previous Wednesday, before dead-heating for first in the Bega Cup on the same day, riding Flinch, for Messrs J&R Chirnside.
Hibburd had previously been seriously injured in a fall while riding Woodrose, trained by his father, in the Moorefield Handicap in Sydney in 1907 resulting in him being hospitalised with concussion.
"Willie" Hibburd was interred in the Bega Cemetery on Sunday, January 5 with the funeral of the dashing horseman being well attended.
Who: Eric A COLLINS
When: 1906 - December 5
Where: Pambula, NSW
How:
While exercising the horse Glenall on the Pambula racecourse on the morning of December 4, the horse fell near the cricket pavilion, with young Collins having one foot caught in a stirrup. The horse rose, and cantered off, dragging the hapless Collins for about a quarter lap around the track to near the show pavilion.
When Glenall was finally stopped by trainer McCarthy, Collins, son of Robert and Minnie Collins of Candelo, was in a state of unconsciousness and was removed to hospital, where, despite the attention of Dr Howie, he died the following evening.
Also
Michael COMAN killed at Araluen on Dec 26, 1906
George HOWARD killed at Randwick on Jan 2, 1909 (a son of John Howard, allegedly the first man to have taken a bullock-waggon to Bega)
George MANNING killed at Canterbury Park on May 21, 1891
Are all buried in Bega cemetery
Frederick McGUINESS killed at Kempsey on Sep 12, 1914, was a son of local residents