DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 1, 2 January 1924, Page 7

DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

__ ■ KILLED IN HURDLE RACE. "PURELY ACCIDENTAL." During tbe running ot the New Year Hurdle race at EUer*l : e yesterday Peter Amans struck a hurdle along the back of the course and fell. His rider. M. D. O'Shea, was thrown heavily on to bis head, with the result that he was killed instantly. The body was immediately brought to tbe Auckland Racing Club's casualty room, and Dr. Shannan and Dr. A M. Grant pro- , nounced life extinct. It was thought I that deceased's neck was broken. The stewards held an inquiry and .found: "That fee state of the track j and the conditions of the hurdles were good: that the evidence ■ taken, which ; included that of every rider in the race with the exception of Rowe, was to the i effect that there was no foul riding or crowding at the time when the accident occurred. This was confirmed by what could be seen of tbe accident by the Judicial Committee, and the accident was caused by the faulty jump of Peter ; Amans. and that no blame could be atjtached to. any rider in tbe race." I It is singular to relate that on tbe : first two days of the meeting both (VShea's mounts fell— Silverton in the ; Grafton Hurdles on Boxing Day and Kafa in the Bo wen Handicap on tie second day. O'Shea. who is a brother to J. O'Shea. the well-known flat rider, was a capable hurdle and steeplechase jockey, his principal successes over hurdles bein? on Poanui when he won tbe Century Hurdles at Wanganui and the Great Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie. He was on Silverton when that horse scored [two wins at the A.R.C. spring meeting. ! An inquest was orened before Mr. J. |W. Poynton, S.-L, at thqlate residence lof tbe deceased, t'jis afternoon, when, i after evidence of identification had jbeen taken, it was adjourned, i *