Jayne Thompson
With 18 winners behind her, Jayne Thompson - daughter of Stainforth trainer Ron Thompson - entered the Catterick parade ring on Saturday, November 8, 1986, to ride her father's mare, Hot Betty.
With 18 winners behind her, Jayne Thompson - daughter of Stainforth trainer Ron Thompson - entered the Catterick parade ring on Saturday, November 8, 1986, to ride her father's mare, Hot Betty.
Before riding for her father, Jayne had started her riding career with Bob Ward, near Doncaster.
Before riding for her father, Jayne had started her riding career with Bob Ward, near Doncaster.
Jayne's mount (out of Hotfoot - Sunstruck Betty) was a medium-sized, lengthy filly, no better than a plater, and had been sold for £1,750 guineas after winning at Redcar.
Jayne's mount (out of Hotfoot - Sunstruck Betty) was a medium-sized, lengthy filly, no better than a plater, and had been sold for £1,750 guineas after winning at Redcar.
Since then she had refused to race on her second start and clearly had her share of temperament and her own ideas about racing.
Since then she had refused to race on her second start and clearly had her share of temperament and her own ideas about racing.
Undaunted, Jayne made her way to the start.
Undaunted, Jayne made her way to the start.
Then they were off.
Then they were off.
Jayne and the Wayward Hot Betty came down at the first.
Jayne and the Wayward Hot Betty came down at the first.
In that moment, it was all over.
In that moment, it was all over.
Fatally wounded, she was rushed to Middlesbrough General Hospital where, for six days, she lay in a coma.
Fatally wounded, she was rushed to Middlesbrough General Hospital where, for six days, she lay in a coma.
After further medical tests, which proved negative, her family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support machine.
After further medical tests, which proved negative, her family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support machine.
Of her 18 winners, nine had been gained on Kindred, who was trained and partly owned by Jayne's father.
Of her 18 winners, nine had been gained on Kindred, who was trained and partly owned by Jayne's father.
Kindred was clearly distraught by the absence of Jayne: the horse went downhill rapidly. He lost weight and seemed to pine for his former rider. Then the horse collapsed in his box.
Kindred was clearly distraught by the absence of Jayne: the horse went downhill rapidly. He lost weight and seemed to pine for his former rider. Then the horse collapsed in his box.
The kinder option was taken: Kindred was put down.
The kinder option was taken: Kindred was put down.
Those closest to her will tell you that Jayne had a vivacious and bubbling personality.
Those closest to her will tell you that Jayne had a vivacious and bubbling personality.
Even Phil Tuck - who had sworn at her during a race for taking his ground, only to find her swearing back at him - expressed genuine sorrow at her passing.
Even Phil Tuck - who had sworn at her during a race for taking his ground, only to find her swearing back at him - expressed genuine sorrow at her passing.
Jayne was the first lady rider to be killed on a British racecourse - on the day she died, jockeys, valets and racegoers at Market Rasen observed a minute's silence in her memory.
Jayne was the first lady rider to be killed on a British racecourse - on the day she died, jockeys, valets and racegoers at Market Rasen observed a minute's silence in her memory.
A fund was set up to buy specialist equipment for the neuro-surgical intensive care unit at Middlesbrough General Hospital in her memory.
A fund was set up to buy specialist equipment for the neuro-surgical intensive care unit at Middlesbrough General Hospital in her memory.
Peter Scudamore summed it up the best.
Peter Scudamore summed it up the best.
'The oldest adage in racing,' he said. 'is that a good day is when you drive home safely in one piece.'
'The oldest adage in racing,' he said. 'is that a good day is when you drive home safely in one piece.'
When young Tom Halliday was killed in similar circumstances, jockey Keith Mercer said, in 1986: 'jockeys do not ride for money. They receive £119 per race. Of that, at least £10 goes to the weighing room valet. Take out fees taken out by their agents and ever-mounting travelling expenses and the glamour of the Sport of Kings soon appears in a very different perspective even with 10% of the prize money.'
When young Tom Halliday was killed in similar circumstances, jockey Keith Mercer said, in 1986: 'jockeys do not ride for money. They receive £119 per race. Of that, at least £10 goes to the weighing room valet. Take out fees taken out by their agents and ever-mounting travelling expenses and the glamour of the Sport of Kings soon appears in a very different perspective even with 10% of the prize money.'