Jockey killings: The promising careers cut short

PROMISING careers in the racing world were rapidly developing for two young jockeys who died in the Malton fire.

Main story: Labourer guilty of jockey killings

Jan Wilson, who had been staying with her boyfriend Ian Brennan, died along with Jamie Kyne as they slept in a top-floor flat.

Figureheads in the sport paid tribute to the two teenagers and lamented their short lives.

Jamie Kyne was born into the racing industry.

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The Irish-born 18-year-old's family ran a stud farm in Co Galway and his childhood spent around horses helps explain why he was routinely described as one of the emerging stars of the sport.

He rode his first winner in December 2007 and came into his own last year when he rode to 29 victories, including the 40,000 sportingbet.com Sprint at York in May.

The talented young rider's name began appearing more frequently in tipsters' columns as he continued to notch up winners.

Not even a seven-day ban, given for misuse of his whip last year, could hamper his rapid progress.

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He claimed his last winner at Beverley when Quinn's Duchess Dora landed a five-furlong sprint on Bank Holiday Sunday, and he was tipped to be crowned apprentice jockey of the year.

Mr Kyne was apprentice to Malton-based trainer John Quinn, who said the teenager's death was "devastating".

He said: "Jamie had been with us about 18 months. He was a great little lad and a very good young rider who had a great attitude to his work and his riding. He had a good career ahead of him."

Racing Post journalist Tom O'Ryan spoke of "the little guy with a sharp sense of humour, a twinkle in his eye and an infectious laugh".

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Addressing the congregation at Kyne's funeral in September, he said: "Somebody once said that jockeys are born, not made.

"Whoever that somebody was, he could have been talking directly and personally about Jamie Kyne. He was a young man born to ride."

Achieving success in the racing world was all Jan Wilson wanted out of life.

Writing on her Bebo webpage before her death, she said her aims were "to be a successful jockey and do my best at everything I do in life".

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It was that ambition that took her from her family's farm in Forfar, in Angus, to the British Racing School in 2007.

When she finally became an apprentice jockey at David Barron's stables in Thirsk in December, she said she had "the best job in the world".

A former pupil of Chapelpark Primary School in Angus and Forfar Academy, the promising youngster had an early and passionate love for horses.

As soon as she was old enough to leave school, she headed south to Newmarket for a nine-week course at the British Racing School.

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From there, she moved to Ferdy Murphy's Yard at Leyburn in North Yorkshire in October 2007 and later moved to Mr Barron's yard as an apprentice.

Just four weeks before her death, the 19-year-old enjoyed her third adult victory on the racecourse - romping to victory in her native land at Ayr.

Her proud mother Margaret watched her daughter win the six-furlong apprentice handicap race on her own horse Imperial Sword, saying afterwards it had been "a special day" for the family.

She was romantically involved with Brennan, another talented jockey, whom she had been visiting on the night of the fire.

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He escaped the blaze by leaping from one of the flat's windows and even took part in races at Thirsk, North Yorkshire, the day after the fire.

The news of the popular girl's death was met with disbelief and sadness by people who had known her.

Christine Barron, who housed the teenager during her tenure at her husband's North Yorkshire stables, spoke of a "lovely" girl who had a bright future ahead of her.

"She was just a very nice, very lovely girl," Mrs Barron said. "She had been with us for just over a year. She was friendly. It is a terrible thing."

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Mr Barron, who was training Wilson as an apprentice at the stables, said: "For a girl apprentice to ride three wins in her first season as a professional is a big achievement.

"She achieved so much in far too short a career."

Leading jockeys Kieren Fallon and Mick Kinane spoke of their sadness at the deaths of the teenagers.

"It is very sad and my hearts go out to the family, friends and relatives of the poor kids," said Fallon, a six-time champion jockey. "It is something you don't like to see in racing or in any other sport."

Kinane, one of the elder statesman of the weighing room, said: "I was very, very saddened to hear the news before racing at the sad loss of the two young riders.

"I would like to express by deepest sympathies to their families."

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