John Ennis, aged 46, was unseated from The Poet at the last hurdle at Coventry on March 14, 1860. Ennis lay for a few seconds on his back until consciouness returned. Just as he made an effort to get up, The Caliph, ridden by W. White, jumped right on top of him, planting both fore plates on him just above the abdomen. 

The unfortunate jockey, though suffering great agony, was still quite conscious as he was at once carried to the nearby Red Lion Inn.

The owner of The Poet, Mr Edward Brayley, was quickly by his side, and was unremitting in his kindness and attention to the injured man.

Despite the best efforts of surgeon Edgar Overton and Dr. Phillips, John Ennis succummed to his injuries.

He left a wife and 3 small children. A fund was set up for them.

John Ennis was apprenticed to Jones of Rockley before training at Delamere Forest, where he had under his charge Yard Arm, Caurire, Eye the Boys, Truth, and several others. He discontinued professional training soon after, and ran one or two horses of his own.

It was about this time that Mr Brayley asked John to ride for him. With his training ambitions unrealised, John gladly accepted the retainer.