Tragedy struck racing on Tuesday (24 September) when a stable girl was killed in the most horrific circumstances at trainer James Given’s Lincolnshire stables.
According to a police report, Rebecca Davies, 18, was dragged for quarter of a mile with her foot hooked up in a stirrup after being unseated in an incident on the way to the gallops.
According to reports, a horse in front of Rebecca’s mount fell and broke a leg, causing her horse to swerve suddenly and then bolt. She was unseated, but her foot was caught in the stirrup and was reportedly kicked on the head several times.
An air ambulance flew in from nearby RAF Waddington, but paramedics pronounced Rebecca dead at the scene.
Rebecca Davies was a graduate from the British Racing School in Newmarket and had been with James Given for seven months. She had ridden out to exercise one of the 80 horses stabled at the yard at around 10am when the accident happened.
On hearing the tragic news James Given flew back from Ireland where he was attending the yearling sales.
“Rebecca was a much valued member of our staff and will be greatly missed,” he said. “We extend our sympathy to her parents and family.”
The stable’s two runners at Newmarket were withdrawn from their races as a mark of respect. An inquest is expected to take place later this week.
NEWS UPDATE 2 September 03
The final inquest into Rebecca’s tragic death recorded a verdict of accidental death.
James Given said: “It seems to me a very sad set of unlikely circumstances, which if any of them had been different would not have ended in the tragedy that happened.”
