BHA investigates jockey Keagan Kirkby’s death in point-to-point accident
The British Horseracing Authority is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Keagan Kirkby, a 25-year-old point-topoint jockey, after his horse ran out through the wing of a fence during a race at Charing in Kent on Sunday.
In a statement issued jointly with the Point-to-Point Authority (PPA) on Monday, the BHA said that “the necessary steps in response to this tragic incident commenced immediately after the race on Sunday and have continued today.”
The statement continued: “The BHA are visiting the site and will work with the PPA, the racecourse and attending medical teams to ensure that the incident is fully reviewed. All of the relevant bodies will also assist the police and/or environmental health officer with any enquiries they wish to make.
“The medical facilities and teams at Charing racecourse on Sunday were fully compliant with the required standards and included two racecourse doctors and three fully-equipped ambulances with paramedic crews. The medical team attended Mr Kirkby within 30 seconds of his fall. Further support was provided by 999 road and air ambulances. Despite the immediate medical attention, the injuries were of such an extent that it was not possible to save Mr Kirkby’s life.
“It is important that, with any incident such as this, we do all that we can to understand what caused it, and whether there is anything we can learn from it. There is a risk attached to racing which can never be entirely removed, but we are committed to ensure that we assess every incident and use any findings to help continually improve our safety record.
“Our thoughts remain with Keagan Kirkby’s family and his many friends and colleagues from within the racing industry and beyond. The Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) are coordinating support for the Kirkby family, his places of work and any staff member or participant at the event.”
Kirkby was a highly valued member of the team at the Somerset yard of Paul Nicholls, the champion trainer over jumps, and rode work on Afadil, a winner at Musselburgh on Saturday. He was the stable’s employee of the month in December 2021, and was shortlisted for the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in the Rider/Groom category.
“He was passionate about his job and his riding and rode Afadil every day,” Nicholls said in a tribute on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. “Last thing he said to me on Friday was “boss Afadil will win tomorrow’. How right he was. RIP Keag we will all miss you terribly.”
Julie Harrington, the chief executive of the BHA, said on Sunday evening that “the entire racing industry will be in mourning at the loss of someone so young and with such potential.
“The esteem in which he was held is clear from the fact that he was nominated for the Rider/Groom category of the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, and made it through to the final 10 in his category. The nomination spoke of Keagan’s qualities as a thoughtful rider who develops a personal bond with his horses, understands their characters and adapts his riding accordingly, as well as his affable, helpful nature and popularity on the yard.”