Popular New South Wales jockey Darren Jones will be remembered as a cherished husband, father and son after his death in a three-horse fall in the state's north.
The 49-year-old, who fell at Warialda while riding race favourite Montague Clan last Saturday, will be farewelled in Tamworth next Thursday, April 20.
"The tragic passing of Darren Jones as a result of a race fall at Warialda in NSW has been a tremendous loss to wife Sheridan, sons Jacob and William and to the NSW racing community," the Australian Jockeys' Association and National Jockeys' Trust said in a joint statement.
NSW Jockeys' Association vice-president Tony Crisafi said Jones was "more like a friend to me" and that he had worked to improve jockey safety standards.
Two other riders were caught up in the fatal fall, with Melanie Bolwell suffering bleeding on the brain, and neck and ankle factures, and Leanne Henry undergoing surgery for a broken collarbone.
The National Jockeys' Trust has released startling statistics on the dangers jockeys face, saying that about 200 jockeys are injured in falls each year in Australia.
* A jockey weighing 50 to 60 kilograms, riding a 550kg thoroughbred at 60km per hour does not allow much margin for error - the National Jockeys Trust.
* Two former Queensland jockeys, Ben Saunders (54) and Wade Clasohm (47), are unlikely to walk again after beding involved in a fall during trackwork at Toowoomba last Saturday.
* Trackwork rider Kate Nipperess this week defied the odds by walking out of hospital on a walker more than eight months after suffering spinal injuries at Warwick Farm.
* 840 jockeys are currently registered in Australia.
* Since records began, 883 have been killed in race falls, with 17 fatalities since 2000.
* There are an estimated 500 serious falls each year in trackwork and races, and roughly 200 riders are injured.
* Of these, 40 per cent are unable to ride for more than a month and five per cent never ride again
* More than half of the country's jockeys earn less than $60,000 a year.
* Between 10 to 12 jockey deaths and 50 career-ending injuries, are projected over the next decade in Australia.
