RACING RALLIES IN FACE OF FIRE TRAGEDY

IT has been a raw week in racing as the sport has struggled to come to terms with the death of young apprentices Jan Wilson and Jamie Kyne.

They perished in a fire just outside the training town of Malton in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

Wilson, 19, had notched three wins on Imperial Sword which was owned by her parents and trained by David Barron.

She loved racing so much that it was almost impossible to get her to take a holiday.

Promising

Kyne was just 18 and attached to John Quinn's yard.

With 29 winners this season, he was fast making a name for himself as the most promising apprentice in the north.

What's more he had made a real impression out of the saddle as a bright, personable, happy character - just the sort of youngster racing needs to attract.

For parents there is no recovery from the death of a child. The wound never closes.

Anger

With the police believing the fire was started deliberately, there is a deep well of anger in the tight-knit racing community.

But a huge amount is being done for the bereaved families, those made homeless by the fire and friends and colleagues affected.

Racing's two main charities, the Injured Jockeys' Fund and Racing Welfare, have been on the ground giving support.

Helen Wilson, of the IJF, has been in touch with the Wilson and Kyne families and Racing Welfare opened a fund that has got off to a flyer with racecourse collections and donations.

Donations

As a sport racing is not short of faults. But when it comes to rallying round and looking after its own it has few peers.

Donations to the Racing Welfare fund can be made by cheque to Racing Welfare, 5b Commercial St, Norton, Malton. North Yorkshire YO17 9HX or by card on (01638) 560763.

Anyone with information on the fire can ring police on 0845 6060247.

Read Alastair Down every week in the Racing Post

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