Public Express Deep Grief at Horse’s Death – Less So Jockey’s
Posted on | October 12, 2007
High Digger (2001-2007)
Tributes have been flowing in for champion horse High Digger after his tragic death yesterday. This year’s Giblets Cup winner and his jockey Timmy Mulleth sustained fatal injuries attempting to jump a particularly difficult fence during a race. The superstar thoroughbred had captured the public’s imagination after his amazing rise to prominence in the last few months.
“I’m absolutely devastated,” says veteran trainer and punter Páidí Mulligan. “He had so much potential, he was definitely going places. And he had such a great rapport with all the fans. My heart goes out to his owner, his trainers, the stable hands, all who made him what he is – I mean, was. Oh, and the jockey’s death is a terrible shame as well.”
The race in question was the prestigious Moriarty Tribunal Novice Chase at Dublin’s Poolbeg racecourse. High Digger was leading the field after clearing the first two fences, but a crucial mistake by his inexperienced jockey led to High Digger taking a terrible fall as he attempted to clear the third, flinging both himself and his human rider head first into the hard terrain.
Emergency medics immediately ran to his assistance, but by the time they untangled High Digger from the fragments of the fence and the body of his jockey, it was clear they were too late to save the unfortunate stallion’s life.
According to Nicola Byrne, one of the medics present, High Digger’s death was due to severe neck injuries where he landed on the head of Timmy Mulleth: “His windpipe was crushed on the hard skull of his human jockey. He died instantly, so at least we know he didn’t suffer. That’s some comfort anyway.”
There has yet to be an official announcement on the fatal injuries of Mr Mulleth, but it is believed that the 28-year old father of three died of a broken back or something.
Last night the radio and TV airways were jammed with members of the public expressing their distraught at the premature death of the popular six-year old. Many recalled his famous maiden victory in the Ann Summers Sodomy Stakes at Inismór earlier in the year when he romped home ahead of the Sir Anthony O’Reilly-owned, odds on favourite Theirishlanguageisdead.
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