Keagan Kirkby was inspired by Ruby Walsh and spoke of 'dream job' with Nicholls

05 February 2024 , 19:28

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Keagan Kirkby worked for trainer Paul Nicholls and rode in point-to-points (Image: Facebook)

A jockey who tragically died in a racing accident had landed his 'dream job' working for the sport's champion trainer.

Keagan Kirkby was based at Paul Nicholls' stable in Ditcheat, Somerset, where staff are mourning the loss of their popular colleague.

The amateur rider, 25, passed away after his horse ran into the side of a jump at Charing point-to-point on Sunday.

The British Horseracing Authority and Point-to-Point Authority are working together to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Dozens of tributes have been paid to Kirkby, who helped Nicholls prepare his weekend winner Afadil – one of five from the stable to be successful at Musselburgh, Scotland.

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Nicholls called his employee – who worked his way up to competing after starting out at his local pony trekking centre – as "one of our best, hardworking lads".

In a previous interview, Kirkby told how he was thrilled to get the position with Nicholls, where he rode horses alongside champion jockey of the future Harry Cobden.

"Working for Paul is my dream job," Kirkby said after winning the Devon and Cornwall point-to-point Grassroots Award in January 2023. "He rewards loyalty and that's why so many of his staff have been there for a long time. I can't thank him enough for his support."

Kirkby, who picked up the accolade after gaining his first success at the 50th attempt, went racing with his grandad at local tracks. The sportsman went to the British Racing School and worked for trainers Jeremy Scott and Will Biddick before joining Nicholls in 2019.

"I admired AP (McCoy) and Ruby (Walsh) and it was wanting to be a jockey that got me into riding," Kirkby added. "When I was seven I was really lucky that my mum started paying for me to have riding lessons at the local trekking centre. As I got older, in all my spare time and holidays, I'd do a bit of work there, riding as much as I could."

Kirkby had his first point-to-point ride in 2017 at Black Forest Lodge and got a job in Ditcheat two years later, following a spell of work experience.

Keagan Kirkby and his girlfriend Emily Burge (Facebook)

Paul Nicholls (pictured) said Keagan was "one of our best, hardworking lads" (PA)

In April 2023, he rode a treble at Aldington and shared pictures of the notable achievement on social media. His girlfriend Emily Bruge told the Mail how much he enjoyed the sport and was due to debut at Grade One racecourses Newbury and Cheltenham.

"'He was doing his amateur licence next week, he loved everything about the sport and had a great future ahead of him," she said. "He would talk about horses and racing all the time, you couldn't keep him quiet about it. People would say he was like the walking Racing Post."

Cobden, favourite to win his first riders' championship, called the accident "a terrible tragedy."

"Keagan loved his job and was an integral part of Team Ditcheat. My thoughts are with all of Keagan’s family and friends," he added.

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ITV Racing pundit Megan Nicholls said: "Can't really get my head around it but to be one of many lucky people to have known Keagan is a privilege. RIP Keag."

Kirkby was pictured with one of his idols AP McCoy in his youth and above the photo, National Hunt racing's 20-time champion wrote: "Heartbreaking."

The British Horseracing Authority and Point-to-Point Authority are looking into the circumstances of the accident.

A joint statement read: “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.”

Melissa Jones