Rising Irish jockey killed in arson attack
05/09/2009 - 22:07:21Irish jockey Jamie Kyne, a rising young star in the racing world, was one of two apprentices who died in an arson attack at a block of flats today. his family said tonight.
Police have not yet confirmed 18-year-old Kyne’s death, but his family in Ireland issued a brief statement confirming he was killed in the blaze in Norton, near Malton, North Yorkshire.
A teenage female apprentice jockey is feared to be the other victim of the fire, according to reports.
Tonight’s statement from the Kyne family said they were “so proud of him” and “just devastated and shocked”.
Kyne’s aunt said: “The family are devastated and Jamie was a star.”
She added of his parents: “They are so proud of him. At the moment they are just devastated and shocked.”
The Kyne family run Kiltrogue stud farm in Claregalway, Co Galway.
Kyne began his career with trainer Declan Carroll, who provided the talented young rider with his first winner in December 2007.
Carroll said: “It is very sad. I know his mother and father and they will both be gutted.
“I brought Jamie to this country from Galway. I saw him riding at the Kempton Breeze-Ups. He was in-between Richard Hughes and Norman Williamson and I thought he looked good.
“I made some inquiries and he then came up to me at the sales and said he wanted to be a jockey.
“He was a good rider and had a lovely personality.
“He had his first winner for me on Birkside and won a couple of races on him for me.”
Kyne was one of the rising stars on the northern circuit.
Attached to trainer John Quinn, he partnered only eight winners last season - but really came into his own this term and had 29 victories in 2009.
Kyne landed the biggest victory of his career when Allan Dickman’s Ishetoo won the £40,000 sportingbet.com Sprint at York in May.
People close to the scene of the blaze at Buckrose Court, in Norton, said survivors were thought to have jumped out of windows or shinned down drainpipes to flee the blaze which started at around 2.15am.
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North Yorkshire Police said the blaze, which happened during a party in the three-storey block early today, was being treated as suspicious.
A local man in his 30s was arrested and tonight he was being questioned by detectives.
The bodies of the victims remained in the burned out building as emergency services worked to make the structure safe enough for them to enter.
Police confirmed that two people were missing, presumed dead, and said that until they are able to enter the building they cannot rule out the possibility that other people could have been involved.
Two more people in the block – also believed to be apprentice jockeys – were taken to York District Hospital to be treated for burns and smoke inhalation.
One man was discharged and the other remained in the hospital, although his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening
Kyne had been booked to ride at Haydock this afternoon.
Racecourses at Kempton and Thirsk staged a period of silence in remembrance today, while jockeys at Stratford wore black armbands.
Trainer Adrian McGuinness, from Lusk, Co Dublin, said Jamie had the makings to go the whole way.
“Its so hard to believe, he was a topping young lad,” said Mr McGuinness.
“He was very good, one of the best young riders about and probably one of the top apprentices in England at the moment.
“He had the makings to go the whole way as a jockey.
“They called him the jewel of the north.”
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