Jockeys pay respects to stalls victim

MEMBERS of the starting stalls handler team in action when team leader Stephen Yarborough was killed at Haydock on Friday were back working at the track last night.

Merseyside Police and Health & Safety Executive inquiries are continuing into the tragic accident which claimed the life of the 60-year-old, who was run over as the starting stalls were being positioned for the start of the fourth race.

After discussions between Haydock and RaceTech, Yarborough’s employers, it was decided that last night’s meeting should go ahead.

Jockeys riding around the country wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the victim, one of the most experienced stalls handlers with 30 years’ experience. Speaking before the meeting, Jason Fildes, general manager at Haydock, said: ‘There is a clear feeling that having abandoned Friday’s card, racing should go ahead and be dedicated to Steve’s memory.’

Yarborough, who lived near Malton, is survived by two children, Christopher and Sheriden. His wife Molly had recently passed away.

A JustGiving page which was set up on Friday evening with a target of raising £1,000 for his family had raised more than £6,500 in under 24 hours.

That amount included donations from jockeys including Jamie Spencer, Sam Twiston-Davies and Henry Brooke and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam.

BENGALI BOYS (12-1) gave trainer Richard Fahey his third win in five years in the £250,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury yesterday. The Barry McHugh-ridden grey scorched home by six lengths from Declaration of love, with Fahey’s 9-4 favourite Maggies Angel a neck further back in third.

Fahey, who saddled five runners, said: ‘We target this race and go to the sales to buy horses for it. I said the day we bought him he’d win the Weatherbys Super Sprint, it’s not often you can say that.’

Bengali Boys cost £9,900 and claimed almost £123,000 for yesterday’s win.