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Ronald James, born in Dunsford, near Exeter, in 1907, was fatally injured in a race accident at Beverley on June 13, 1934. He was riding second favourite Good Fish in the Hurn Selling Welter Handicap when his mount collided with the rails.
Ronald was thrown heavily and received such dreadful injuries that he died two days later in the Beverley Dispensary and Hospital.
His wife and mother made the journey from Newmarket to Beverley: sadly, he died just four hours before they arrived.
Just behind Ronald and Good Fish when they fell was jockey McGuigan riding Marshall for trainer Judge.
McGuigan stated that the horse slipped up and no blame could be attributed to anyone.
Though not in the top flight of jockeys, Ronald (nicknamed 'Peeky') certainly received a good deal of patronage as he was one of the strongest of middle-weight jockeys.
Before entering a flat-racing stable, Ronald used to ride at small meetings in the West of England and rode about 200 winners.
He was recommended to Walter Griggs, whose stables were at Exeter House, Newmarket.
His first ride was on Kroon Belle in the 1922 Lincoln.
His first winner came on April 6, 1922, when getting Island Lord home at Derby. This was just his second rode under rules.
After completing his indentures Ronald became light-weight jockey for Lord George Dundas's stable, and remained with him until 1933.
He also rode a good deal for R. J. Colling's Newmarket stable.
Ronald rode 14 winners in 1933 but his best season was in 1928 when he rode 52 winners in England, finishing eighth in the winning jockeys' list.
He had also ridden to great effect in India.
An inquest into Ronald's death was held at the Guildhall, Beverley, on Friday, June 15, 1934.
His biggest win had come on High Art when taking the 1926 Queen's Vase.
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