JOCKEY KILLED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 272, 17 November 1941, Page 8

JOCKEY KILLED

R. W. McTAVISH

TRAGEDY AT TE RAPA

SIX HORSES CRASH

(Special to Star.i TE RAPA, this day. Roderick W. McTavish, one of ihc best known and most successful horsemen in the Dominion, was killed instantly at Te Rapa at noon to-day when his mount, Golden Vaiiey, fell at the straight entrance in the Frankton Handicap. It was t ne first event on the programme of the second day of the Waikato 1 lacing Club's spring meeting and the news of McTavish's death immediately cast a gloom over the course. A further distressing feature of the fatality was that Mrs. McTavish was on the course and witnessed the death of her husband. She broke down completely and was taken care of by friends.

The accident was one of the most sensational seen in racing in the Dominion, no fewer than six horses crashing at the turn and spreading across the course. In the consequent melee of struggling horses and jockeys several other runners in the race were badly interfered with. One figure remained prone, pathetically still. It was the centre of all eyes while ambulance men rushed to the scene.

It was R. W. McTavish, who during his long career on the race track had made friends • throughout the Dominion and was held in high esteem by the New Zealand racing authorities. He was dead. Racing on the Rails Golden Valley took up a prominent position in the early ru&ning and was racing on the rails behind Royal Melody and Lady Pay at the straight entrance. The track here was spread out slightly in consequence of heavy rain overnight, but as far as can be ascertained the track had nothing to do with the mishap, as Golden Valley appeared to get on the heels of one of the two horses in front. Flying Cross (L. C. Brown), who was immediately behind, had no chance to avoid the fallen horse and rider, and he came down on top of them. Irish Love (R. Home), Mark Anthony (R. Sargent), Tea Drop (A. Sinton) and Reihi Nui (J. Taylor) also crashed.

The horses immediately struggled to their feet, the riders, Home, Brown, Taylor and Sargent making slower progress, while Sinton appeared to have some difficulty in getting up. It was apparent to. the ambulance men who were on the spot with great celerity that McTavish was beyond aid. He had suffered extreme head injuries. "Happened in a Flash" Interviewed after the race, Brown, rider of Flying Cross, could not throw any light on the mishap. "Everything happened too quickly," he said. "My horse was lying fourth just behind Golden Valley and came down, and in a flash we were all piled up." Williamson, who was on Leighon Rose, said: "My horse was running about seventh on the rails when the others came down, and although we tried to avoid them Leighon Rose could not get clear." Taylor could not express any opinion as he knew nothing about the mishap until he came down over the other horses, but Sinton, Tea Drop's jockey, said that Golden Valley fell in towards the rail, the other horses falling out from the rail. "My mount had no chance of avoiding Golden Valley and we both came down," he said. Sinton's statement would indicate that McTavish's head may have struck one of the posts supporting the rail. Sinton suffered severe bruising about the body and was otherwise shaken.

Flags Lowered on Course Home, whose right foot and groin were badly bruised, said he was too far back and saw nothing, as his horse was running about 14th at the turn. "It was not until I came round into the straight that I realised what I was in for," he said. "Horses and jockeys were spread across the track and I had no chance of avoiding trouble." An inquiry was opened immediately and then adjourned, the chief stipendiary steward, Mr. C. Gomer, stating that further evidence would be taken during the afternoon and that no finality could possibly be reached to-day. The flags were immediately lowered out of respect for the dead jockey.