Lambourn jockey’s inquest opens

POPULAR jockey Michael Pitt was found hanged in a Hungerford car wash, a coroner heard on Wednesday, August 4.

The 19-year-old was achieving great success in the horseracing world, having ridden in at least 26 meetings since he gained his amateur jockey licence.

An inquest opening in Reading Town Hall told that a garage employee arriving for work at the Co-op petrol station in Charnham Street petrol station found the body in the car wash just after 7am on Monday, July 5. A pathologist who carried out a post mortem examination on the jockey’s body ruled that the cause of death was hanging.

Michael Pitt was the son of top racehorse trainer Tim Pitt. He had just gained his amateur licence to ride over jumps and worked for the prestigious Warren Greatrex yard in Lambourn as a stable lad.

The teenager had completed his last race on Moonlighting in November, finishing seventh at Southwell, having ridden 26 times on the Flat since taking out his licence in 2019.

Assistant Berkshire coroner Ian Wade QC said: “The discovery was made by Daniel Way, who was working at the Co-operative.

“On his arrival at work at 7am he discovered the body of a young man in the jet wash area forecourt of the petrol station. The person appeared to be completely unresponsive. It was the impression of Daniel Way that the body had been there for quite a few hours.”

The full inquest was set to be heard on September 30.

If you or someone you know is seeking help and advice here is a small selection of the resources that are available in West Berkshire.

These organisations will be able to assist and or direct you to organisations who are able to help:

Talking Therapies: 0300 365 2000

Samaritans: 116 123

Citizens Advice West Berkshire: 0300 222 5941

Relate in Newbury: (0118) 987 6161

SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide): 0300 1115065

Time To Talk: (01635) 760331 Charlie Waller Memorial Trust: (01635) 869754

Racing Welfare in Lambourn: (01488) 670034