November 10, 2013
Country racing circles are in mourning today following the news that premiership-winning Gympie jockey Desiree Gill died overnight from head injuries sustained in a fall at Caloundra yesterday.
Gill, 45, was a very familiar face at South Burnett tracks and was much-loved by racegoers and her colleagues in the racing industry.
Tributes have been flowing on social media.
Gill’s recent form had been outstanding – she booted home four winners and a third at Bundaberg on Melbourne Cup day – and won the South-East Queensland Country Premiership Jockey of the Year title in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Her last outing in the South Burnett was at the Wondai Cup meeting in October where she rode the winner of Race 3, Unique Fuse, trained by husband Barry.
The Gill combination was a winning recipe and looked to be working again on Saturday.
Desiree had already ridden two thirds and a fourth from three starts – all trained by husband Barry – before the tragic fifth race where she was mounted on Celtic Ambition, trained in Gympie by Nichole Boyd.
It was not an unfamiliar ride for Gill; it was the fourth time she had been on board Celtic Ambition over the past two months.
The 4yo gelding fell as the field approached the 1400m mark.
Gill was immediately transported to Nambour Hospital and placed in an induced coma but died this morning.
Early reports suggested Celtic Ambition clipped the heels of a runner in front of it but a full investigation into the circumstances of the fall is yet to be held.
Stewards have taken evidence from all jockeys in the race but then adjourned the inquiry “to a further time and date to be fixed”.
The rest of meeting – Races 6 and 7 – was abandoned.
