French apprentice jockey Benjamin Boutin dies after fall

A 21-year-old French jockey has died after being injured in fall.

Benjamin Boutin fell from Game Of Legs at Argentan racecourse in Normandy on Saturday (26 November). The pair were involved in a four-horse pile-up and the apprentice jockey was knocked unconscious.

He died in hospital this morning (Monday 28 November) of his head injuries.

“Nobody in the profession could fail to be affected by the death of Benjamin Boutin,” said Ronan Thomas, president of the French Jockeys’ Association.

“What has happened to this young man spurs us on to develop even better safety measures, and better emergency services. That urgency is the only light to come out of this situation.”

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