The launch of a new body, Irish Injured Jockeys, sadly coincided with a truly shocking week for riders, following the deaths of three jockeys in just a couple of days. The racing community in Australia is reeling from two of these deaths, while the third occured in America.

The three fatalities occurred on the flat and they unfortunately highlight the dangers that all riders face every time they mount a horse. The recent fall by A.P. McCoy, which ruled the iron-man of racing out for more than a few days, again shows that all jockeys, from the best to the least well known, are at risk.