The racing community, especially here in Singapore and in Australia, is in shock following news that Australian jockey Timothy Bell died after reportedly falling from a high-rise apartment in Choa Chu Kang on Tuesday night.
Details are sketchy as police are still investigating, but from unconfirmed reports, it appears Bell, 22, locked himself out from his unit, and fell to his death after attempting to climb into his 12th-storey apartment.
Trainer Steven Burridge who was instrumental in bringing the 2013/2014 Brisbane champion jockey to Singapore was deeply saddened by the news, just like anybody within the close-knit Kranji racing industry.
“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,” said Burridge.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know more about this accident other than from what most have heard. He was locked out and fell while trying to get into his apartment.”
Bell has just begun a successful three-and-a-half month stint at Kranji, bagging five wins on top of one previous win recorded at a one-day visit in July to ride at the Juvenile Championship meeting for Burridge. The 2013-2014 Brisbane champion jockey even won a Singapore Group 3 race when he steered the Mark Walker-trained Sebrose to victory in the El Dorado Classic just less than two weeks ago, on October 25.
Back in Australia, Bell rode around 650 winners in a career spanning seven years, including more than 20 at Group level. His most notable wins are the Group 1 Queensland Oaks with Tinto, the Group 2 Queensland Guineas with Sir Moments and the Group 2 QTC Cup with Sacred Star, all won last year.
Born in Narrabri in country New South Wales, Bell claimed his first Queensland metropolitan jockey title in the 2013/2014 season when he finished on top on 58 wins, two wins clear of Michael Cahill. He finished runner-up in last season’s premiership on 57 wins, 14 wins behind champion jockey Jim Byrne.
A lightweight jockey who can ride at 50 kg, Bell was the winning jockey at the latest race held at Kranji, booting home the Burridge-trained Lim's Bullet in the last race of Sunday’s meeting.
The Singapore Turf Club would like to express its heartfelt condolences to Tim’s family and friends.
