Top jockey dies aged 27 after horror mid-race fall simply months after turning into a dad
The horse racing world has been plunged into mourning following the tragic death of a top jockey and a new father at the age of just 27 after a horror fall
Jockey Leandro Henrique has tragically died
The horse racing world is in mourning following the tragic death of a top jockey and new father at the age of 27.
Brazilian rider Leandro Henrique has sadly lost the battle for his life after suffering a horror fall during a race last Sunday. According to reports in Brazil, he passed away in the early hours of Wednesday.
Henrique suffered a devastating fall from a horse during the second race at Hipódromo da Gavea. The same track where Frankie Dettori had his final ever ride. He only became a dad for the first time last year.
Leandro Henrique was one of Brazil’s leading jockeys
The jockey made global headlines last year when he started celebrating extravagantly 50 yards before the finish line in Brazil’s biggest race – the Group 1 Grande Premio Brasil.
Henrique was unaware that there was a fast finishing horse on his inside but narrowly managed to hold on for the win by a nose.
He admitted after the race that he failed to spot the horse and became ‘caught up in the moment’. He was subsequently banned for 59 days and was slapped with a fine.
Speaking after the race, he said: “I’m at a loss for words. I’m in shock because of the finish.
“I didn’t see the horse on the inside. I was caught up in the moment and celebrating because I have dreamed about winning this race and my daughter is also being born soon.
“I am very happy but I am very relieved. I want to apologise to the trainer and the owners – this will never happen again.”
Henrique previously went viral the year before when he and his wife Victoria Mota, used a race at Gavea to announce the gender of their baby. The couple welcomed the birth of Manuela midway through last year.
Victoria is a jockey-turned-trainer who finished ahead of Ryan Moore and others in the 2024 International Jockeys’ Challenge in Riyadh.
Henrique won more than 1,000 races having first started at 14 and winning the jockey premiership at Gavea at just 16.
