The dangers of working with racehorses were underlined by the leader of the stable staff union following the death of Ken Dooley at Kempton Park on Saturday night. Dooley, who had spent decades in racing and was in his 50s, is believed to have been kicked while working in the stable area and collapsed shortly afterwards.
“You’re dealing with half a tonne of combustible beast,” said George McGrath, the National Association of Stable Staff chief executive, when reflecting on the tragedy on Sunday. “I don’t think people realise how dangerous it is, or how skilful the staff are to keep these horses under control.
“The public see horses crossing roads in Newmarket or Lambourn or Malton, looking quiet and sedate, but the level of skill needed to make them look like that is completely underappreciated. It’s a tribute to their talent that people assume they’re easily manageable.
“You could compare it to driving a car, which has its own dangers. But now imagine you’re in a Formula One car. If Joe Bloggs gets in a Formula One car, he’d crash in 100 yards. These horses are bred and trained to be supremely motivated and they are unpredictable.”
Amanda Perrett, the Sussex-based trainer, was Dooley’s employer for the last seven years and spoke of her sadness at losing “a friend and colleague”. She said: “Ken was a very special member of our family business. He was an excellent employee, very experienced with racehorses, having worked all of his life with them as a jockey, trainer and jockey coach around the world. He was always first into work in the morning, hugely enthusiastic and dedicated to his horses and a very much valued and integral member of our team.”
The last two races at Kempton were abandoned as every member of medical staff rushed to the racecourse stables to help Dooley. Surrey police have begun an investigation, describing his death as “unexplained”.
Martin Dwyer, one of the jockeys riding at Kempton on Saturday, spoke of the “sombre mood” that followed news of the incident.
“It highlights what a dangerous sport this is,” he said, “and makes you think of the stupid things we worry about: making the weight, will I ride this horse or that. Then something like this happens and the whole industry takes a breath.
“Unfortunately horses do kick out and I believe that’s what happened. They have metal shoes on and, if you get a kick from a horse, it can be very serious. Horses don’t mean to do it. If they feel frightened or threatened, if they feel someone is too close or something, they do kick out but fortunately it is very rare.”
Black armbands were worn by staff and jockeys at Sunday’s race meetings at Chepstow and Goodwood and a minute’s silence was observed. A spokesman for the Racecourse Association said: “Racecourses do everything they can to provide a safe working environment in all areas and are equipped to provide the highest level of medical care and attention whenever it is required.
“This tragic accident is a reminder of the dangerous nature of the work stable staff do, day in, day out, and our thoughts are very much with everybody affected at this difficult time.”
The National Trainers Federation also expressed its sadness and added: “Mercifully, fatal accidents in the course of caring for racehorses in Britain are rare and we acknowledge and salute the commitment of stable employees across the country who devote their working lives to their horses.”
Tizzard hesitating to aim high with Finian’s Oscar
Finian’s Oscar lost his confidence after slipping on the approach to an early fence on Saturday, his trainer, Colin Tizzard, said on Sunday, reflecting on the star youngster’s unconvincing round of jumping here the day before. Tizzard has changed his mind about the likely venue for the horse’s next run and is now inclined not to go to Cheltenham this month.
“He’s fine, he trotted out fine this morning,” Tizzard said between races. “Bryan Cooper said he slid into the third and frightened himself a little bit, so he sat up on him.”
That explains why Cooper allowed Finian’s Oscar to be so far behind the leaders by halfway on the horse’s first run over fences, which he eventually won by 11 lengths. “The race fell apart didn’t it?” Tizzard said. “He was quite a way back, we were all thinking, you need to be a bit closer, really. But he moved up quite quickly, easily. Then obviously the grey [Alcala] fell on the bend and the other one was knackered. It was a matter of just hacking home.”
While Finian’s Oscar fiddled his way over a few fences, Tizzard was encouraged by how he responded on the run-in when Cooper decided to test him. “Bryan said: ’After I jumped the last, I thought, I’ll just see what there is under the saddle.’ You watch it again, he squeezes him and for five strides he was gone.” Cooper found himself having to restrain the horse just seconds after asking for an effort.
Tizzard said: “I did say we’d aim him at Cheltenham next but I think we’ll find somewhere else for him. We might even go small again.”
Five players from the Cheltenham Town side that lost to Port Vale on Saturday found some consolation when they came here to cheer Poetic Rhythm, a battling winner of the Persian War Novice Hurdle. Harry Pell, Danny Wright, Brian Graham, Aaron Downes and Kevin Dawson were all present and in high spirits in the winner’s enclosure.
All have been following horses since meeting Chris Coley, who manages the Yes No Wait Sorries syndicate, in April at a charity match to raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund. “This is better than scoring a goal, they tell me,” Coley said. “Of course, they don’t score many ... ”
Chris Cook’s tips for Monday
Yarmouth
1.40 Fakhoor 2.10 Willie John (nap) 2.40 Progressive Jazz 3.10 Aljezeera 3.40 Four Kingdoms 4.10 Kulgri 4.40 Chiswick Bey (nb) 5.10 Tawfeer 5.40 Lunar Deity
Musselburgh
1.50 Eva Docc 2.20 Mister Showman 2.50 Big Tour 3.20 Alpha Delphini 3.50 One Boy 4.20 Gabrial The Tiger 4.55 Sexy Legs 5.25 Tawseef
Windsor
2.00 La Belle Mayson 2.30 Garrick 3.00 Convinced 3.30 Sandy Shores 4.00 Zeelander 4.30 Abiento 5.00 Dash Of Spice 5.30 Ciaoadiosimdone
