Awful news in horse racing … jockey Taiki Yanagida — known as “Tiger” — has passed away days after he fell and was trampled during a race in New Zealand.
Taiki was only 28.
The accident occurred last Wednesday during the last race at Cambridge Jockey Club … when the Japanese jockey fell off his horse, Te Atatu Pash, about 250 meters from the post, where the race begins, according to the NZ Herald.
Yanagida — who lost his helmet in the fall — was rolled on by his own horse and then trampled by another following closely behind.
The jockey suffered serious brain and spinal injuries and was transferred to the Waikato Hospital where he was placed into an induced coma.
Very sad to hear the news Taiki Yanagida passed away at Waikato Hospital from a race fall at Cambridge last Wed.
Here are photos I took of Taiki winning earlier on the day.
So sad 💔 RIP Taiki. pic.twitter.com/3OODjJJyqn— Mark Nowell Racing (@MarkANowell) August 9, 2022
@MarkANowell
Unfortunately, Yanagida never recovered … he died on Tuesday. Taiki is the first jockey to die in a race fall in New Zealand since 2016.
“He was such a wonderful young man,” Yanagida’s racing manager, Ted McLachlan, told the Herald.
“It really is a tragedy and so hard to watch what his mother and sister here have had to go through.
Rip Taiki {Tiger} Yanagida . i didnt know him personally but a few of my friends did .He was apparently a lovely person, friendly and outgoing .This was his brilliant 2nd Group winning ride on Bellatrix Black .My sincerest condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/vXcvgGn6TD
— Chris Moore (@Lion_Tamer_Nz) August 9, 2022
@Lion_Tamer_Nz
“This will really hurt the other people in the industry because Taiki was so popular.”
Yanagida raced in New Zealand for several years and rode over 160 winners since 2017.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing CEO Bruce Sharrock also expressed great sadness at the loss.
“Our deepest sympathies are with Taiki’s family – his mother Kayano, sisters Chiaki and Ayano, and his grandmother,” Sharrock said.
“We share their grief at the loss of such a talented, friendly, and well-liked young man.”
R.I.P.