Yarborough death ruled accidental
A verdict of accidental death has been recorded in relation to Stephen Yarborough, the stalls handler who was killed at Haydock last summer. Yarborough, 60, was very experienced at the job and was acting as a supervisor on the day in question, when a moment’s inattention appears to have cost him his life as the stalls were being reversed into position for the next race by a tractor.
According to a report in the Liverpool Echo, one of his fellow workers told an inquest at Bootle Town Hall: “He was waving the stall back and asked me to take the stalls back at the end of the day. Stephen turned sharply into the stall for some reason. His foot got caught in the wheel that trapped him. It was so quick. If he’d stood still, it would have missed him.”
Another stalls handler present that day said he had shouted to Yarborough three times to get out of the way of the stalls, but got no response. Yarborough was killed by multiple crush injuries after becoming trapped by the reversing stalls, which then rolled over him.
By all accounts, Yarborough was the first to suffer a fatal injury in connection with starting stalls, which have been in use in Britain for half a century. There is obviously great danger in the fact that the tractor driver has a very limited view of anything to either side of the stalls as he reverses and relies on some of the handlers to guide him; Yarborough was one of those guiding the stalls on this occasion.
Kate Hills, who speaks for Racetech, which operates the stalls and employs the handlers, assures me that their procedures have since been subject to minute scrutiny with the aim of minimising the risk of anything similar happening again. “RaceTech are proud of their extremely high standards and safety record,” she says. “Procedures are regularly reviewed and equipment meticulously inspected to ensure we maintain the highest standards. Human and equine safety is paramount”.
John Bozza, Racetech’s chief executive, paid tribute to Yarborough: “Stephen was a highly regarded and popular member of the team. He was a dedicated, responsible team leader with 30 years’ experience behind him. He is, and will continue to be, greatly missed by friends and colleagues at Racetech and from across the wider racing industry.”
Thursday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Napping a horse who fell last time is not a habit I’d like to establish but I’m prepared to give it a go in the case of The Kings Writ (1.40), who appeared on the point of scoring impressively when coming down at the last at Chepstow last month. A 6lb rise is not severe in the circumstances and this confirmed mudlover should again go well, with the in-form Harry Cobden aboard for the first time.
Often, a horse with that profile would go off favourite but there’s a significant rival in Air Navigator, a winner on his reappearance over a horse who’s won since. I think The Kings Writ has more promise than his rival and 4-1 is a good price. We’ll see.
Earlier, there’s 5-2 as Trans Express (1.10) tries to win the handicap hurdle for the third year in a row. His form in Exeter handicaps reads: 116122 and he comes here in form once more after scoring at Leicester.
The going will be testing both there and at Hexham, where Lucinda Russell looks well placed to land a quick double in the opening races. She fields Well Above Par (12.30) and Highland Hunter (1.00), which should both start at odds-on.
Southwell 11.50 Country’N’Western 12.20 Limerick Lord 12.50 Jennies Gem 1.20 Favori Royal
1.50 Lads Order 2.20 Dream Serenade
2.50 Archimedes 3.20 First Excel
Hexham 12.30 Well Above Par 1.00 Highland Hunter 1.30 Kelka 2.00 Misfits 2.30 McGinty’s Dream
3.00 Sporting Press
Exeter 12.40 Evidence De Thaix 1.10 Trans Express 1.40 The Kings Writ (nap) 2.10 Dalila De Seuil 2.40 Big Time Frank 3.10 Nearly Perfect 3.40 Mauna Kea
Chelmsford 5.30 Khazix 6.00 Tajawoz 6.30 Red Skye Delight 7.00 Star Catcher 7.30 Zafaranah (nb) 8.00 Aircraft Carrier 8.30 Wotadoll 9.00 Slipalongtrevaskis
