Investigation begins after Jockey Keagan Kirkby dies at point-to-point race
Investigations into the death of point-to-point jockey Keagan Kirkby have begun as friends and colleagues paid tribute to the 25-year-old.
Kirkby died after his mount ran through the wing of a fence at the South East Hunts Club meeting at Charing on Sunday.
A joint statement from the British Horseracing Authority and the Point-To-Point Authority said: “The necessary steps in response to this tragic incident commenced immediately after the race on Sunday and have continued today.
“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.”
Multi-champion point-to-point rider Will Biddick, who employed Kirkby for a season before he moved across the village to Paul Nicholls, said the rider was “living his best life”.
“He was happy, worked hard, had lovely horses to ride for Paul and was making a go of being a point-to-point rider and that’s all he wanted,” said Biddick. “You couldn’t help but like him. We all know what we’ve signed up for but we just never think it’ll happen to us – otherwise no one would do it.
“All he wanted to do was ride in a race, be around good people and horses. He had a lot of friends in the south-west but a point-to-point trainer in Sussex rang Paul Nicholls looking for an amateur one day, Paul put him in for it, he won on it and most of his success was coming in the south-eastern region. I said to him at Ampton recently ‘Keag, you’re the king of the East’ and he replied ‘I do seem to have a bit of luck here.’”
Nicholls posted on X:
Life is so hard sometimes , winners totally insignificant compared to what has happened today . Sadly Keagan Kirby one of our best , hardworking lads lost his life today riding in a point to point . All at team ditcheat are mortified . Thoughts with all his friends and family.
— Paul Nicholls OBE (@PFNicholls) February 4, 2024
The Injured Jockeys Fund released a statement saying that Kirkby’s mount had run out through the wing of a fence on the second circuit of the final race. It added: “The on-course medical team attended immediately, and despite additional support from a 999 Helicopter Emergency Services Crew, he could not be saved.
“Keagan was a respected member of the Paul Nicholls team and had been awarded employee of the month in December 2021. He was shortlisted for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in the Rider/Groom category 2024.”
Kirkby had initially worked at Nicholls’ yard in Ditcheat, Somerset, on work experience while at school. His enthusiasm for the job was noted in a tribute from assistant trainer Harry Derham when Kirkby won the stable’s employee of the month award. Derham wrote at the time: “Keagan is always smiling, works hard and is a real trooper to have around the yard, nothing is ever too much trouble.”
Kirkby rode out Afadil every day at the yard. The horse won at Musselburgh on Saturday. In his X post, Nicholls added: “He was passionate about his job and his riding. 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, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said in a statement: “We are devastated to hear the tragic news regarding the fatal injuries sustained by Keagan Kirkby.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and everyone at the yard of Paul Nicholls. 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.
“We call on everyone to respect the privacy of Keagan’s family and the Paul Nicholls yard.”
