Haydock and RaceTech await completion of stalls investigation

Haydock and RaceTech both made clear on Saturday little could be said about the accident that cost stalls handler Stephen Yarborough his life until all investigations have been completed.

As tributes poured in following the death of the popular 60-year-old, an online effort to raise money for his family received support from some of racing's best-known figures.

Merseyside Police reported Yarborough "was pronounced dead at the scene" after being run over by the starting stalls before the fourth race on Haydock's Friday card.

That fixture was abandoned but the racecourse, after consulting the deceased's family and his colleagues, took the decision to stage its Saturday meeting.

A familiar face

With 30 years of service, Yarborough was a familiar sight on Britain's racecourses, particularly in the north.

Across Britain, stalls handlers, jockeys and officials reflected on his loss by wearing black armbands, while at Newbury, where the afternoon's principal action was staged, flags were lowered.

Speaking on Saturday morning, Haydock general manager Jason Fildes said the track's evening meeting would be "dedicated to Steve's memory".

Fildes said: "We discussed it at length, including with the BHA. The general feeling was that going ahead with racing was the right thing to do.

"The police and the Health and Safety Executive were on site yesterday. Until they have completed their investigations nobody is in a position to say anything."

RaceTech, which introduced starting stalls to Britain in 1965, believes Yarborough's death is the first linked to the mechanisms.

Like Haydock, it remains unable to comment on the specifics of the accident.

A fundraising effort has been started to raise funds for the late Stephen Yarborough's loved ones

Spokeswoman Kate Hills said: "The stalls handlers are a very close-knit group. They are very much like a family, so Steve's death has not surprisingly hit them all very hard.

"Our chief executive, John Bozza, and chairman, Tom Phillips, went up to Haydock early this morning to support the team there, while Andy Peverell, our racing operations and safety manager, drove up last night.

"We shall continue to provide full support to them and also, of course, to Steve's family."

Such support is also set to come from the JustGiving page set up by racecourse bookmaker and owner Andy Smith that by 7pm Saturday had raised nearly £7,000 for the friends and family of Yarborough, who is survived by two children. His wife predeceased him following a battle with cancer.

Those who were close to Yarborough can also access support from Racing Welfare, which said in a statement: "The whole team at Racing Welfare would like to express their sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Steve Yarborough after yesterday's tragic accident at Haydock.

"Racing Welfare's charitable role is to provide support to the whole of racing's family, of which stalls handlers are a vital part. The charity's support is available to everybody working in racing, inclusive of all racecourse staff, stud staff and stable staff. Racing Welfare also provides support to the families and dependents of these people.

"Anyone who has been affected will be able to access support from Racing Welfare. The charity can be contacted through Racing's Support Line, which provides a 24-hour telephone helpline (0800 6300 443) as well as online contact methods at ."

Merseyside Police on Friday said Stephen Yarborough had been pronounced dead at the scene of his Haydock accident

On Friday evening BHA chief executive Nick Rust had paid tribute to Yarborough and his former colleagues, saying: "Stalls handlers carry out a brave and important job each day looking after the safety of horses and riders, and we are grateful for their work.

"British racing will come together in grief at this incident – we are one family and today we have lost one of our own. Our condolences and sympathies are with Stephen's family and friends."

Prominent individuals connected to starting stalls spoke of Yarborough in glowing terms, including stalls guru Steve 'Yarmy' Dyble, who said: "I knew him very well and he was one of the top men in the north. It's tragic what has happened, he will be a huge loss."

Kieran O'Shea, Newmarket's starter on Saturday, said: "I was working with Steve at Leicester on Thursday. It's devastating news.

"To say good night to someone on that afternoon, and for them to be dead the following day, it's too much to take in.

"I've known him for 14 years and he was a great lad. My thoughts, and those of the handlers here at Newmarket today, are with his family."

Recently retired RaceTech stalls team leader Keith Barber said: "I've seen people have their foot run over when they weren't looking but this is unbelievable. I know Steve will be a big loss as the northern team, in particular, is like one big family."

Craig Witheford, who with father Gary works with difficult horses before the start of races, added: "Steve was as nice a bloke as you could hope to meet and was always very helpful to us. I worked alongside him many times. It's tragic."