Talented Queensland jockey Corey Gilby has died this morning in the Townsville Hospital after a freak fall during a trial at Julia Creek on Saturday.
The North West racing fraternity was in shock after the fall which left his family facing the heartbreaking decision of "turning off his life support".
Gilby reportedly fell when the horse he was riding during a trial gallop went down. Witnesses said it seemed bandages came loose as they passed the finish line, causing the horse to fall and roll on the jockey several times.
Sources close to Gilby said friends and family were at his bedside in Townsville in north Queensland.
Gilby completed his apprenticeship with prominent Mount Isa trainer Jay Morris in 2008 before hitting the road with winners from Melbourne to Darwin.
The 25-year-old returned to Mount Isa to resume his partnership with Morris earlier this year before recently joining trainer Kerry Krogh in Julia Creek.
Morris said he was devasted when he heard the news and was still having a hard time coming to terms with the events at the weekend.
"I am still in a bit of shock. We were only just talking the other day about racing and now he is battling for his life. We went through some ups and downs but we never stopped being friends," he said. "Corey rode my first official winner. He was a talented rider who thrived on confidence."
