Report rules no blame in teen jockey's death

A report on the death of teenage jockey Sam McRae has found no one else was to blame for a stumble which saw the apprentice dragged 900m at Riverton races.

The stipendiary steward on duty, Stewart Ching, who is preparing a report for the police, said: "We've already finished the raceday report, which clearly shows that Sam's horse clipped the heels of a runner in front and that no one was to blame.

"If the coroner becomes involved, and I'm picking he will, I will have to write another report for him.

"The surprising thing is that his mount did not stumble all that badly, but it was enough for him to be propelled forward over the horse's shoulder, during which his foot must have jammed forward into the stirrup iron and locked there," said Ching.

In one of the most distressing incidents in the history of New Zealand racing, 16-year-old McRae was dragged, rag-doll-like, with his foot stuck, behind his mount Queen's Evidence at the Eastern meeting on Saturday.

He was taken unconscious to Southland Hospital where he died a few hours later from head and chest injuries. His family, who had been at the races, were at his bedside.

Some of his family bid their farewell from overseas, the jockey's mother, Robyn McRae, said yesterday.

"His sisters Casey [New York] and Tessa [Sydney] said goodbye to him over the phone," Mrs McRae said.

His girlfriend, Kasey Black, was also at his bedside.

McRae began race riding in January and at Ascot Park in Invercargill nine days ago, he kicked home his first two winners - Gladiator's Choice and Tsunami Girl.

"He liked horses - it was more than just a job to him," Mrs McRae said.

"He was keen to learn and always wanted to do better and if he thought he had done something wrong, he'd ask. He was very competitive."

To prepare himself for the Riverton meeting he walked the racetrack in the rain the day before.

As part of their investigation into McRae's death, police have confiscated the race videos and McRea's saddle and riding gear.

Rival jockeys Laura Parker and Kalai Selvan pulled their horses out of the race and attempted the difficult task of pulling up Queen's Evidence, but the mare had travelled 900m and was into the home straight before she was brought to a halt.

"The stirrup irons were the new Australian ones which allow riders to put just their toes on the bottom plate," said Ching.

"Under normal circumstances there is no chance that a foot could get caught up in that type of iron.

"The iron must have become twisted as Sam went over the side of the horse.

"Being hooked up and dragged is every jockey's nightmare. Sam was a very promising boy, he had a real future."

Jockeys being dragged in races is extremely rare. Retired champion jockey Lance O'Sullivan had nearly 14,000 career rides and never came close.

O'Sullivan said the thought of being dragged was so horrific that jockeys never discussed it.

It is the first time in nearly three years that a jockey has died in New Zealand from injuries suffered in a race fall.

The most recent death was that of Ray Hewinson, who was involved in a fall at Ashburton in June 2002.

- additional reporting NZPA