A 20-year-old jockey has died following a car accident on Christmas Eve.
Paul Kavanagh, from County Galway in Ireland, was a conditional jockey and had been part of Enda Bolger’s yard in Limerick for the last two years.
Irish jockeys riding in the United Kingdom and Ireland wore black armbands on Boxing Day in tribute to him.
Bolger said: ‘We’re devastated. He was the most polite, well-mannered and well-brought-up young man we ever had anything to do with. He was a credit to his parents. I can’t imagine what they are going through.
‘He was getting plenty of rides and Mick Winters was a big supporter as well. All he wanted to do was ride in races.
‘Paul was very good friends with Rossa Ryan, and it was Rossa’s dad who sent him down to me. He was here for two years.
‘We were helping him all the way. We have a nice horse here called Solitary Man, and he rode him a few times; he was up to that grade. It’s so sad.’
Ireland’s national police are still appealing for anyone who could have useful information to come forward.
Kanavagh’s fatal collision happened at 2am on Christmas Eve morning on the N20 Road in Bruree, south-east County Limerick. Anyone travelling in the area between 1.40am and 2.15am has been invited to come forward to the police.
Fellow jockey Aidan Kelly said: ‘He was a lovely young lad who was always looking for help. You couldn’t meet a nicer fellow. I want to send condolences to his family and to everybody in the weighing room; it’s such a shock to the system.
‘He was quiet, you wouldn’t know he was there a lot of the time, but I used to meet him at the Curragh when he was working with Enda, and I’d always ask him about the horse he was riding. It’s such a tragedy.’
Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus, said: ‘Paul’s passing is so hard and so sad. We had the pleasure of him riding a winner for us at Clonmel in June. He had a bright future, and I want to send my heartfelt condolences to his family. It’s so desperately sad. His friends and family are in our thoughts.’
More to follow.
