Japanese jockey Taiki Yanagida dies after suffering injuries in horse race

According to reports, a 28-year-old horse racing jockey Taiki Yanagida passed away on Tuesday from wounds sustained when he was stomped on during a race a week earlier.

According to a racing website, Taiki Yanagida passed away in a New Zealand hospital after being put on life support after competing in a Cambridge Jockey Club race on August 3.

“We extend our sincere condolences to Taiki’s mother Kayano, sisters Chiaki and Ayano, and grandma. CEO of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Bruce Sharrock said in a statement, “We feel their sorrow at the loss of such a talented, affable, and well-liked young man.”

After a protracted period during which he was unable to fly home due to Covid, Taiki was recently able to spend a month back with his family, and we hope they find solace in the memories made during that time.

The devastating loss of one of our own always affects us deeply, and Sharrock continued, “We need to be conscious of how others may be feeling and processing this loss.” We will make sure there is support in place for Taiki’s colleagues jockeys because we are also particularly aware of them.

During the last race of the day, Yanagida was knocked off of his horse, which resulted in him losing his helmet. He was then partially rolled over by the horse, after which another horse rode over him.

According to the source, he sustained damage to his brain as well as his spinal cord, and even if he had survived, it was highly unlikely that he would have been able to walk again.

According to the NZ Herald, Yanagida spent his childhood in Japan before travelling to Australia at the age of 18 to seek a career in horse racing and subsequently to New Zealand.

Months before to his death, the NZ Herald quoted a report in which Yanagida stated that his mother constantly feared for his safety and was initially opposed to him competing.

“My mother is happy for me since I’m doing what I’ve always wanted, but she still worries about me and prays for my luck and safety,” he told Raceform two months ago.

The publication said that his mother was beside him when he died.