DEATH OF JOCKEY REILLY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 November 1927, Page 3

DEATH OF JOCKEY REILLY.

ACCIDENT AT TAKAPUNA. Auckland, Nov. 28. A racecourse accident, resulting in the death of a jockey, R. H. Reilly, occurred during the running of the Rakino Handicap, five furlongs, at Takapuna to-day. Reilly was riding Mr, Wenzl Scholium’s two-year-old filly White Wings, and by some means ' was unseated from his mount when the field had covered about three furlongs. What actually happened is not definitely known, although it is believed Reilly was thrown against the course rails. At the time White Wings was running about seventh or eighth behind the leading bunch. She appeared to be getting a clear run and did not fall herself. Reilly was killed instantly. His neck was broken and 1 he also sustained severe injuries to the face and head. The judicial committee of the Takapuna Jockey Club will hold an inquiry into the accident to-morrow afternoon. This was the fourth fatality recorded on this source in little over three years, others to meet their fate here being McFlinn, Moylan and Preston, while Berry was killed some time before. One of the other riders said White Wings was acting uncertainly just prior to the accident, when she crossed to the rails. Here the hoof marks showed that she almost got under the rails and a chain further on collided with the fence. It is not known whether Reilly actually hit the rails in the fall, but it is probable that he was knocked while falling, for there was blood on top of the rail and yet no sign of a mark on the fence itself. It appeared that Reilly fell almost under the rails and thus would clear the horses following.