Tributes paid to groom Ken Dooley

Tributes were paid on Sunday to the groom who died at Kempton Park on Saturday night, with Ken Dooley described as "hugely enthusiastic and dedicated to his horses" by his employer, trainer Amanda Perrett.

Dooley, in his 50s, suffered fatal injuries following an incident in the stable yard prior to race seven at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue.

Perrett, who employed Dooley at her base in West Sussex, said in a statement to Press Association Sport: "It is with huge sadness that I can confirm we lost our friend and colleague Ken Dooley after an incident in the stable yard at Kempton last night.

"Ken had been with us for seven years and was a very special member of our close-knit family business at Coombelands.

"He was an excellent employee, very experienced with racehorses having worked all of his life with them as a jockey, trainer and jockey coach around the world. He was always first into work in the morning, hugely enthusiastic and dedicated to his horses and a very much valued and integral member of our team.

"I would like to thank my staff, Brian Clifford, the stable and racecourse staff at Kempton, Hugo Palmer's travelling head lad, Dr Lucy Free and the ambulance service who we so quickly there to help Ken.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time."

Surrey Police said an investigation is under way into the incident that prompted Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford to abandon the fixture with two races on the card remaining.

A force spokesperson said: ''Surrey Police were called to Kempton Park racecourse in Sunbury-on-Thames following a report of a sudden death around 9.20pm on Saturday, October 14.

''A man in his 50s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"The death is currently being treated as unexplained and inquiries remain ongoing.''

Jockey Martin Dwyer is closely attached to the Perrett yard and was in action at Kempton.

He told Racing UK: "There was a very sombre mood and nobody really knew what was going on, and then we found out. As I was leaving there were blue lights everywhere and it was a bit of a shock.

"Unfortunately, horses do kick out and I believe that's what happened. They have metal shoes on and if you get a kick from a horse it can be very serious.

"Horses don't mean to do it. If they feel someone is too close or something they do kick out, but fortunately it is very rare. It is very sad."

Dooley's death comes four months after stalls handler Stephen Yarborough died at Haydock when he was run over by mobile starting stalls before a race.

British Horseracing Authority chief executive Nick Rust paid tribute to Dooley.

He said in a statement: "I am sure that I speak for everyone at the BHA and everyone in British horseracing this morning when I state that we are truly devastated about the events which unfolded at Kempton Park last night.

"Our sympathies go to the family, friends and colleagues of the individual who has lost his life, and the entire industry will join in mourning over this tragedy."

Newmarket trainer Robert Cowell said it was "an awful tragedy".

He tweeted: "The grooms/riders are the life of our industry. Respect and condolences. RIP."

Fellow trainer Richard Hannon tweeted: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the lad killed at Kempton last night and all his family and friends and also with Amanda Perrett RIP."

Steve Parlett, general manager at Kempton Park, said: "All the team here are shocked and upset by the sad loss of Ken Dooley last night.

"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are very much with his family, friends and colleagues."

The National Trainers Federation said in a statement: "The death of a stable employee last night at Kempton Park Racecourse is a tragedy that touches all in racing.

"Reactions across the sport testify to the close bonds that unite us in our common passion and from the National Trainers Federation, we send our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.

"Mercifully, fatal accidents in the course of caring for racehorses in Britain are rare and we acknowledge and salute the commitment of stable employees across the country who devote their working lives to their horses.

"British horseracing is fortunate to have an excellent support system for its people and this is at the disposal of anyone in times of need."

Sunday's two domestic meetings at Goodwood and Chepstow held a minute's silence as a mark of respect.

Now-retired multiple champion jockey Sir Anthony McCoy tweeted: "Sincere condolences to his family friends & colleagues rip Ken Dooley."