« Reply #10 on: Thursday 17 November 22 09:47 GMT (UK) »
Her brother’s accident.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Thursday 07 April 1966
DEATH NEAR HIS HOME
Jockey Hayes dies in crash
Michael Hayes, Newmarket-born jockey, was killed instantly in a car crash at Cheveley near Newmarket yesterday.
One of the most successful apprentices of post-war years, Hayes was apprenticed to Sam Armstrong's market stable at the age of 14 and had ridden as first jockey to the stable for the past two or three seasons, He had ridden 130 winners.
He was killed when his Lotus Elan was in collision with a Ford Zodiac at a crossroads, an accident black spot, at Cheveley.
The driver of the other car, Mr Sidney Welham, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, received injuries to his ribs and head and was detained at Newmarket General Hospital.
Aged 27, Hayes was married. The spot where he was killed was only half a mile from his home. Hayes rode 20 winners under Jockey Club rules last season and 17 the season before.
"Terrible loss"
Before joining Armstrong in 1955 Hayes was quite famous as a boy rider in the show-ring, riding his own pony to many successes around the Leighton Buzzard area. When he went to he Newmarket trainer, Mr Armstrong allowed him to take his pony with him and he used to ride it around the yard to give him further confidence.
Said Mr Armstrong last night: "Michael's death is a terrible loss. But for a bad accident at Wolverhampton which set him back, Michael would have been one of the greatest. He married my secretary."
Hayes rode the handy weight of eigh stone and his big-race successes included the Zetland Gold Cup on Cash and Courage (1958), the Ascot Stakes on Bonhomie (1957) and the Liverpool Autumn Cup.
Boyd, Dove, Blakey, Burdon
