Flogging a Dead Jockey
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
April 24, 2016 5:58pm CST
Have you heard of Frank Hayes? This is one of those bizarre events you happen to come across by accident. On June 4, 1923, Frank Hayes rode a horse called Sweet Kiss, in a steeplechase at Belmont Park, New York State, USA.
The 35-year-old stablehand and trainer was not technically a jockey and had never won a race before. Sweet Kiss was a 20 to 1 outsider and was owned by a Miss A M Frayling. Hayes suffered a fatal heart attack somewhere during the race but Sweet Kiss came in a head in front of the rest of the field with Hayes still sitting in the saddle.
Weighing-in was dispensed with and Hayes was buried three days later in his racing silks.
It is thought that a contributing cause was death was the fact that Hayes lost 12 pounds in a very short time to make his racing weight. The horse was apparently called 'Sweet Kiss of Death' thereafter and didn't race again. As is often quoted, the truth is stranger than fiction.
24 people like this
21 responses
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
25 Apr 16
wow, what a great way to go for someone in his profession - be sad that anyone betting on him winning probably forfeited their winnings even though he won the race
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
25 Apr 16
@JudyEv that is quite good for the gamblers though rather spooky too
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
25 Apr 16
What a very odd story that is! Talk about "random" things happening!
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
25 Apr 16
I don't think I'd ride a horse with that name!.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
26 Apr 16
@JudyEv I also don't walk under ladders!
1 person likes this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
25 Apr 16
That's a sad event and strange too. Probably no one would ride Sweet Kiss again.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Apr 16
The article said that no-one ever rode her again. I'm not surprised really.
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Apr 16
Amazing that he stayed on, considering it was a steeplechase.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Apr 16
And the article said 'sometime during the race' so it sounds as though he'd still have some jumps to go.
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
@teamfreak16 They ride with longer stirrups in a steeplechase which might have helped.
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Apr 16
@JudyEv - That's what I was thinking.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
25 Apr 16
That is definitely strange, but yet, I can see how that would happen @JudyEv .
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Apr 16
That is a really weird story. You are right that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction!
1 person likes this
