Australia’s racing community is mourning the death of young jockey Tim Bell who fell to his death from his high-rise apartment block in Singapore.
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He had recently agreed a three-month contract to ride in Singapore and moved there early last month, riding a double at Kranji on October 19 before landing his first Group 1there last week.
Bell rode his first Group 1 victor on Tinto in the Queensland Oaks previous year before he was crowned champion jockey in Brisbane with 135 winners for the 2013-14 season.
A day after the euphoria of Michelle Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup win, Australian racing is in shock over the death of well-known jockey Tim Bell.
In a news release, the Singapore Turf Club said that according to unconfirmed reports, the 22-year old had locked himself out from his unit, and fell as he was attempting to climb up to the 12th storey to get his house keys.
Police are investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, Bell’s fellow Queensland riders have paid tribute to their colleague by replacing “their Facebook photos with an image of Tim Bell”.
Tim Bell, 22, “was found lying motionless at the foot of the building” late Tuesday, a police statement said.
Singapore-based Aussie trainer Steven Burridge was the man instrumental in getting Bell to Singapore and said he, like the close-knit local racing industry, was shattered by the news.
“It’s a tragedy. Timmy had the whole future ahead of him and not only could he ride, but he was also such a great young man, and was very driven to become a very good jockey”, Burridge told the Singapore Turf Club.
His last victor came at the Singapore meeting on Sunday when he booted home Lim’s Bullet.
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Bell was a lightweight jockey who could ride at 50 kilograms (110 pounds). “My thoughts and prayers are with his handsome friends and family”.
