Embedded Files
1899 - 1934
On Tuesday, January 2, 1934, Murtagh Keogh, 34 years old and a native of Kildare, climbed aboard Aquilus for the first race at Manchester, the Club Hurdle. (left)Trained by Bobby Renton, it was to be Keogh's last ride.
The horse came down at the second hurdle: Keogh, desperately injured, was brought into the ambulance room where he complained of pains on the head and left side. He gradually drifted into unconsciousness, and died two hours later. Death was due to severe cerebral concussion and haemorrhage caused by a blow on the head.
An accomplished jockey, Keogh had won the Grand Sefton at Aintree in 1929 on Shaun Goilin for Frank Hartgan's stabe and would have ridden that horse when he won the Grand National the following year if he had not been incapacitated through injury.
At an inquest held at Salford on Friday January 5, 1934, another jockey - Richard McCarthy of Middleham - said that he was riding Patella in the same race in which there were 13 runners in total. As they were going over the first hurdle, Keogh's horse made a bad landing and threw his jockey over his head. He (McCarthy) was riding on the inside and Keogh was in about the centre of the field. So far as he knew, their horses did not touch at any time.
Another jockey, Arthur Waudby, stated that Keogh's horse had appeared to strike the top of the hurdle with its forelegs, throwing the jockey over its head. Keogh rolled on the ground and other horses appeared to strike him as they passed.
Inspector Lane, who witnessed the accident, said that Keogh's horse was running abreast with another horse, but they did not appear to touch. Keogh's horse appeared to strike the top of the hurdle, throwing its jockey. Four other horses coming up behind, rode over the fallen jockey. It was a pure accident.
There was a mark on Keogh's crash helmet, clearly showing the imprints of a horse's hoof, probably his own.
His body was afterwards conveyed to Dublin and from there to Kildare for his funeral which was held on Saturday, January 6, 1934.
A verdict of 'Death by Misadventure' was returned.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse