German rider dies at Australian racetrack

Track rider Friederike Ruhle has become the second fatality this year at Caulfield following a riding accident this morning.

The Racing Post reports that the 25-year-old German rider was working on the sand track at the time of the tragic accident but was pronounced dead on arrival at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Racing has been hit with a number of setbacks recently and the death of the young German rider is another shocking reminder of the dangers of the sport.

Mike Symons, chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club, said: “It is with great sadness that I express my condolences to Friederike Ruhle’s loves ones on their tragic loss.

"I have enormous respect for the significant contribution that our track riders make in preparing our equine stars for racing and the inherent risks that comes working with horses.

"On behalf of the committee, staff, and members of the club, our sincere sympathies go out to Friederike’s family, friends, colleagues at Byron Cozamanis Racing, and all of the racing community at Caulfield during this very sad time."

The club is conducting a full investigation into the circumstances of the accident in conjunction with Victoria Police and Work Safe.

Four female jockeys, Caitlin Forrest, Carly-Mae Pye, Desiree Gill and Simone Montgomerie, have died after separate racecourse accidents in Australia in the last two years.