JOCKEY'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 6

JOCKEY'S DEATH

FATALETY AT TAKAPUNA (By Telcgiiaph—Press Association.) '■'• January 2S. An accifl tflt dnring the. running of tho Calliope at the Takapuna races on Sat ttrday resulted in tlio death of the sucdessful apprentice rider, Goorgo Albc M- Baker, aged 19. . Baker had tlio mount on the two-year-old Kol ty, who was having his first 1 race, and jufcfi before turning into the straight he wt'is thrown heavily, strik* ing a woodemi rail in liis fall. lie suffered a fruelUire of the thigh, concussion, and intifonal injuries, and died in tho Auckland}- Hospital at; 5.20 p.m., about two'ailU a half hours after tho race. Baker was feho socond son o£ Mr. and 1 Slra. G. A. B »ker, of Motumaoho, near Morrinavillo. Being sindll and having v, liking for horses, ho decided Ho become a jocki ty, and for about three years w,as ass tciated with the stable of Mr. George Phul, of To Awamutu. Mr. Paul said he liail the greatest admiration for tho conduct of the boy and the progress he hi id made, and felt the loss as keenly as i '£ tho boy belonged to his own family, i Baker's grandfather, Charles Baker, won the Aucltland Trotting Cup with Typewriter, in! 1906. An inquiry Sicgarding the accident was opened b;b- the judicial committee of the Takapuijp Jockey Club, and after evidence had 'been given by jockeys engaged in the Jiaco and tho observation steward, it v\ tas adjourned. It was found that the jrirth had broken, allowing the saddle to slip. Baker's motljcr journeyed fo Auckland when :ioli ped of the accident, but ho died whilo fcic was on the way. An inquest w^js opened last evening, and after cvidciloo of identification had been given, an iuUournincnt was made. As a ma,rk of* respect jockeys at the Takapuna racgs, .tomorrow will wear arm bands. f , *