Jockey died after freak accident at stable (From Gazette & Herald)

Jockey died after freak accident at stable

A JOCKEY died after a freak accident when he tried to fasten a blanket on a racehorse, an inquest jury heard last Thursday.

A verdict of accidental death was returned on Phillip Daniel Greally, 19, of Church End Cottages, Sheriff Hutton, who died in Leeds General Infirmary six days after the accident at Sheepclose Farm Stables, Stittenham, Malton, last December.

The head girl at the stable, Jane Bedford, said she was in a field where four mature racehorses were wintering, and each was wearing an all-weather rug.

She had been asked to fasten the rug on one horse, Hasta La Vista, because the cord was trailing on the ground.

She said the task involved catching the horse and putting on a head collar, but the horse ran off.

Mr Greally, who had been nearby, went to her aid but as he was trying to catch Hasta La Vista, another horse "came shooting past and lashed out" with its hind feet.

Mr Greally was dragged and was struck on the side of the head, rendering him unconscious for a few seconds. An ambulance was called and Mr Greally was taken to York District Hospital and later transferred to Leeds.

She said that neither of them was wearing protective headgear and she would not expect to do so, other than for riding.

Stable lass Hannah Nelson said in a statement that Mr Greally had suffered "a double-barrelled kick - both the horse's feet came off the ground".

Robert Hirst, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector said the four horses were "old gentlemen of racing". He said Mr Greally had been undertaking a simple task when the accident happened.

He had attended Doncaster Racing School and acquired an NVQ in horse care, which including putting on and taking off horse rugs. In addition to the theoretical course, he had four years experience working with horses.

"He was brilliant with the horses," added Mr Hirst.

He added that he had spoken to leaders of The Jockey Club, Stable Lads Association, and the trainers' organisation and all agreed that they would not expect head protection to be worn for the job Mr Greally was doing at the time of the tragedy.

He said that out of 665 accidents involving horses nationally in the last 18 months, fewer than 1pc had involved horses in an open field, and in 28pc of cases people had been injured, but no accident matched that of Mr Greally's.

Mr Hirst said the HSE supported the views of the industry that wearing headgear was not necessary for carrying out such tasks.

David Easterby, assistant trainer at the stable, said Mr Greally had been given the opportunity to be a jockey after making his mark as a stable lad.

He described the job of putting on a horse rug as "like putting your shoes on in a morning". The horses were well-known to Mr Greally, he added.

Michael Oakley, the North Yorkshire East Coroner, said it had been "a very remote and freak accident".

Medical evidence was given that Mr Greally died from bronchopneumonia and a head injury.

Updated: 12:36 Wednesday, May 07, 2003