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Jockey brands win in 80,000 race irrelevant after tragic death of Tommie Jakes

Neil Callan, whose son Jack is a talented apprentice rider, spoke emotionally after winning the London Middle Distance Final at Kempton on Monday

[Tommie Jakes ]

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Tommie Jakes died aged 19(Image: PA)

One of Britains senior jockeys branded his win in an 80,000 race irrelevant in the wake of the death of Tommie Jakes, who was his sons best friend.

The 19-year-old apprentice rider, who had ridden 59 winners in three seasons competing on the Flat, was found dead at his home near Newmarket on Thursday last week, hours after his final ride at Nottingham Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon. Suffolk Police said: Police were called by the ambulance service at 5.45am this morning to reports of the sudden death of a man in Freckenham. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will now be prepared for the coroner."

Jakess death has rocked the sport, particularly among members of the weighing room. A fundraiser has been launched to help support the riders family and other vulnerable young people.

On Monday Neil Callan, 47, whose son Jack is an apprentice jockey, voiced his concerns about social media and urged the sport to do more to protect the youngest members of the weighing room from harm.

After winning the feature London Middle Distance Final at Kempton on Kings Code, he told RacingTV: This is a difficult week. My sons best friend was Tommie Jakes, so all this is irrelevant when it comes down to things. If only that kid knew how much he was loved.

[Neil Callan: warned of the dangers of social media to young jockeys]

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Neil Callan: warned of the dangers of social media to young jockeys(Image: PA)

Weve been consoling all his best mates, my son and everybody. Its sad. Im trying to hold it all together but weve got to look after kids.

Callan said the sport as a whole needed to step up, adding: This next generation, theyre going to need looking after with the way social media is going, and everything about racing and sport is about social media. Its a bit of a minefield but God weve got to protect them. We dont need any more of this.

Like I say to my kids, Speak to your friends. Get your best friends round. Speak to them, cry if you want to, it doesnt really matter. Just get it out and think of your best mate.

He went on: Its very difficult. My son had a fall the other day and then rode a favourite and it kind of carted off with him, no fault of his own. He got abused on social media and I got abused for him. Im tough and Im old school and I can give it back.

These kids nowadays, they kind of need social media, they need these media companies helping to promote them. But at the same time you have to be careful of the other side of it, the dark side, and I think racing and the leaders of racing, leaders of us, need to do more and more and more because this new generation, theyre going to need protecting.

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