Jockey John J Evans had a premonition that he would not make it through the day of racing at Coolgardie on August 11, 1901.
He was right. His mount, Arthur, refused to rise at the first obstacle in the first race of the second day of the sixth Coolgardie Cup, the hurdle. It crashed into the hurdle, throwing John.
He was taken to the Coolgardie Hospital and did not regain consciousness before dying about 6pm.
An inquest heard that 25-year-old John had told his mate he would not get over the first jump.
A large number of racing officials, stewards, jockeys and townspeople followed his remains as they proceeded to the Coolgardie cemetery soon after.
Eighteen years later on the other side of Australia, a run of bad luck at the races finished for Norman Alfred Kimmorley when his horse also took exception to the race.
Kimmorley was riding a horse named Mody in a pony race, when the horse swerved off the course. As he tried to get it back on the track, he collided with a guide post, striking his head and knocking him off the horse.
The local schoolmaster gave first aid, but Norman did not regain consciousness. His neck was broken.
The newspaper reported “the unfortunate youth on Saturday had met with an accident while riding in a race at Boomi”.
SOURCES: The Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 3 April 1929 p 5
Western Mail, Saturday 17 August 1901 p 52
Kalgoorlie Miner Monday 12 August 1901 p 8
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