Racing at Haydock the day after Yarborough tragedy was mistake
The death of stalls handler Stephen Yarborough at Haydock last Friday shocked everybody in the sport and I believe it was a mistake to allow racing to go ahead at the course the day after such a tragedy.
I did not know Stephen well but, having spent a lot of time riding in the north earlier in my career, I was familiar with him and I was heartbroken for his family when I heard the news.
Every jockey will testify that without the stalls handlers their job would be almost impossible, and it is hard to convey to those who have never been up on a horse and walked into a set of starting stalls just how brave these people really are.
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