Horse Racing
Tributes paid to former jockey as ‘freak accident’ leads to death age 49
Valdi de Souza had been in hospital since the accident. The Brazilian native rode several hundred winners in his homeland and subsequently helped educate young horses
Tributes have been paid to former jockey Valdi de Souza, who has died at the age of 49.
The Brazilian native and employee of Grove Stud was injured in an accident and had been on life support in hospital.
De Souza rode several hundred winners in his homeland and went on to record several notable successes in Ireland around 20 years ago. His boss at Grove Stud, Brendan Holland, told the Thoroughbred Daily News his team were “absolutely devastated” about the “freak accident.”
After his career on the track was over, De Souza helped educated young horses for breeze-up sales.
“He was just an absolute gentleman–the kindest, nicest and gentlest person you would ever wish to meet,” Holland stated to the publication. “He adored horses and, when he was on a horse’s back, that was his home.”
In 2005, De Souza teamed up with Liam McAteer trainer Majestic Times to win the Abergwaun Stakes at Cork and two years later, he repeated his Listed heroics on Curragh scorer Rock Of Rochelle.
Before his achievements in the saddle, he grew up with Silvestre de Sousa, three-time champion jockey in Britain between 2015 and 2018.
“I just hope that his family knows how special he was to us all and how much we’re all going to miss him,” Holland added. Other friends paid their respects, including Anna Calder, who called De Souza “a top class horseman and a gentleman.”
A representative of French auction house Arqana posted on X: “It is with sadness that we have learned the news of the passing of Valdi de Souza. We had the privilege of watching him gallop horses on Deauville racetrack for years and would like to extend our thoughts and deepest condolences to his loved ones.”
The sad news comes as the racing industry mourns the loss of BBC 5 Live commentator John Hunt’s wife Carol and daughters Hannah and Louise.
A fundraising campaign to help the family, launched by his colleague Matt Chapman, reached £40,000 earlier today.
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