An inquest began in Parkes on Tuesday into the tragic death of a young jockey at the Tottenham Picnics on March 12, 2011.
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Reece Potter, 23, of Freeman’s Reach, sustained serious head injuries after a horror fall caused when favourite, Half Handy shattered a pelvis which set the jockey crashing to the turf.
He was treated at the track by Ambulance then transported to Dubbo Hospital before being flown to Sydney and placed in an induced coma.
He died on March 14 after the family decided to turn off his life support.
The inquest into his death is being conducted by Deputy State Coroner, Hugh Dillon, with Coronial Advocate Sgt Erica Mulligan and barrister, James McLeod (for Racing NSW).
Members of the jockey’s family were present for the hearing.
Today, the Coroner heard from seven witnesses - Detective Andrew McGrath, Todd Smith (Chairman of Stewards, Central Districts and Western Racing Association), Troy Vassallo (Deputy Chairman, Stewards, Southern Districts), jockeys in the race, Ben Duggan and Stuart Brown, Reece Potter’s grandfather, Harry Williams who said he had watched the race on video ‘over and over’ and believed it was a ‘freak accident,’ and Rodney Robb (the horse trainer), from Nyngan.
The inquest continues on Wednesday, with a finding expected in the afternoon.