Fallen jockeys, those that had lost their lives as a result of injuries sustained in falls, were remembered last Saturday at Caulfield.

Families that had lost a loved one, and there have been many, at least now they have been recognised.

A jockey’s Memorial for the fallen was the brain child of the late Ned Wallish, he was secretary of the Bookmakers Association for several years before taking over a similar role for the jockeys.

Ned worked hard, he received little assistance, he was out on his own, it was his inspiration, vision and passion that resulted in the original Memorial, to fallen jockeys, being created in 2005.

Even when the original Memorial was completed with its 296 inscribed names, finding a home was an issue, the race clubs showed no interest, finally it was the Melbourne Racing Club the Memorial was placed at Caulfield, near the race day office, in full view of the members coming in from the car park.

The re-designed Memorial, with 877 names of fallen jockeys, was unveiled by Victoria’s Minister for Racing and Attorney General, the Hon Martin Pakula.

The skilful art of Jennifer Mann, as sculptor, will be much admired for generations, as a lasting tribute for Australian jockeys that have paid the ultimate price in their chosen profession.

A statue above the memorial features Hughie Cairns, an ex New Zealander, the most versatile jockey the turf has known, he mixed riding over jumps and on the flat with equal skills, he lost his life in the late twenties, when Quick Deal fell in a hurdle race in front of the grandstand at Moonee Valley.

Cairns had won the Grand National Hurdle on Maranqua , the Cox Plate on Heroic, and the Melbourne Cup on Spearfelt, for Vin O’Niell.

It was not long before another talented New Zealander, Keith Voitre, crossed the Tasman to ride for Lou Robertson.,

The spring of 1935 was a stellar period for the partnership, they combined to win the Cox Plate with Garrio, the Derby with Felspar, Melbourne Cup Marabou and the Oaks with Nalda, a record that has never been equalled.

Voitre met the same fate at Cairns, a decade later he was killed in a fall from Frill Prince, just before the turn into the straight at Moonee Valley.

About the same time, Ray Wilson and Stan Kyte were both killed in a tragic fall on Adelaide Cup day at Morphettville.

The late Neville Sellwood, among the most successful jockeys we have known, winning two Melbourne Cups, three Caulfield Cups, plus a host of feature races, lost his life in a fall from Lucky Seven at Maisons-Laffitte in France.

Fortunately race falls are less frequent than in previous years, race riding has been improved greatly with patrol films of races a necessary innovation, and jockeys have the benefit of Des O’Keefe, he is conscious of their overall welfare, providing great assistance to all riders.

With jockeys now wearing protective vests and better head gear, jockeys are not as vulnerable to severe injury as in former years.

The versatile Hughie Cairns