Richard Oliver
Richard Oliver
Richard Oliver
In February 1938, Yorkshire-born Richard Oliver became apprenticed to Thomas Edward Leader who trained at Machell Place, Newmarket. At approximately 9.15, Monday 18 November 1940, whilst returning from morning exercise on the Lime Kilns, a string of horses from Leader’s stable had just crossed the main Newmarket-Bury Road at Well Bottom. The trainer was about four yards in front of seventeen-year-old Richard Oliver, who was riding the last horse in the string. Suddenly he heard the noise of a horse ‘jumping or stumbling’. On looking around, he saw Richard’s horse flat on its side with the young rider trapped beneath it. Richard’s leg was pinned under the horse’s side. Leader leapt from his horse and threw himself across the horse’s head to prevent it from struggling and further injuring the young apprentice. A passing Airman’s car was flagged down. Richard was taken to the Rous Memorial Hospital. Dr John H Randall from Newmarket was in attendance. At 9.40 a.m. he examined the unconscious Richard. The young jockey was suffering from a concussion and a fracture of the skull on the right side, which was causing pressure on the brain. The fracture was consistent with a fall from a horse. An operation to relieve the pressure was immediately performed, but Richard Oliver died at 11.30 a.m.
In February 1938, Yorkshire-born Richard Oliver became apprenticed to Thomas Edward Leader who trained at Machell Place, Newmarket. At approximately 9.15, Monday 18 November 1940, whilst returning from morning exercise on the Lime Kilns, a string of horses from Leader’s stable had just crossed the main Newmarket-Bury Road at Well Bottom. The trainer was about four yards in front of seventeen-year-old Richard Oliver, who was riding the last horse in the string. Suddenly he heard the noise of a horse ‘jumping or stumbling’. On looking around, he saw Richard’s horse flat on its side with the young rider trapped beneath it. Richard’s leg was pinned under the horse’s side. Leader leapt from his horse and threw himself across the horse’s head to prevent it from struggling and further injuring the young apprentice. A passing Airman’s car was flagged down. Richard was taken to the Rous Memorial Hospital. Dr John H Randall from Newmarket was in attendance. At 9.40 a.m. he examined the unconscious Richard. The young jockey was suffering from a concussion and a fracture of the skull on the right side, which was causing pressure on the brain. The fracture was consistent with a fall from a horse. An operation to relieve the pressure was immediately performed, but Richard Oliver died at 11.30 a.m.
At an inquest held later, the Coroner gave a verdict of ‘Accidental death’.
At an inquest held later, the Coroner gave a verdict of ‘Accidental death’.
