'He loved racing and the public loved him' - German racing mourns the loss of former champion jockey Filip Minarik at 48

Filip Minarik, the Czech-born former champion jockey of Germany who suffered life-threatening injuries in a fall at Mannheim in 2020, has died at the age of 48. 

A popular figure in weighing rooms across the world, Minarik suffered severe brain trauma in the fall which left him in a coma for several weeks. Although he recovered to the extent that he returned as a regular presence on the racecourse, the end of his sporting career was something he struggled to cope with. 

On Tuesday the German racing website galopponline.de confirmed that Minarik, a four-time champion jockey, had died on Monday, and carried a quote from his wife Katja. 

"We fought so hard, but in the end we lost the battle against the ever-increasing depression," she said. "We need time to realise and process what has happened."

Minarik never won a Derby in his adopted homeland but twice landed the Preis der Diana (German Oaks) with Salomina (2012) and Well Timed (2018), as well as the country's most important all-aged prize, the Grosser Preis von Baden, on four occasions. 

Minarik also participated for the European team in the 2019 Shergar Cup alongside Gerald Mosse and Adrie de Vries, winning aboard Stone Of Destiny. 

Trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Minarik in the years leading up to his accident, with the pair making a formidable combination as trainer and first jockey to the powerful Gestut Schlenderhan operation. 

Ivanhowe and Filip Minarik storm clear of Sea The Moon in the 2014 Grosser Preis von BadenCredit: Sarah Bauer/Sorge

"We won a lot of Group 1s together with horses like Ivanhowe, Guiliani and Ito, as well as the German Guineas on Ancient Spirit and the Diana on Well Timed," said Carvalho. "We had dinner together only last Wednesday and he told me the most beautiful victory of his career was on Ivanhowe in the 2014 Grosser Preis von Bade, and I'd have to agree."

Carvalho added: "He was 48 and I'm 52 and we were both able to do 50kg, so he was my greatest rival among the lightweight jockeys when I was still riding. But we had a wonderful collaboration during those years I was training for Schlenderhan.

"He had been suffering from depression for some months and it is something that you must never underestimate. He loved racing, he loved the show and the racing public loved him. I think he missed that terribly."

Minarik attended the final two days of the Baden-Baden 'Grosse Woche' meeting over the weekend, and was caught on camera with fellow jockey Luke Morris by British-born photographer Jimmy Clark.

Morris reposted the photo on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, saying: "Very sad day RIP Filip. Fantastic Jockey even better person. This was only Sunday in Baden."

Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, a leading owner and the man behind the syndicate that races this year's Deutches Derby winner Fantastic Moon, tweeted "Legends never die", along with a picture of a very young Minarik carrying his colours.