Teenage jockey who died in race fall, Caitlin Forrest, farewelled in SA
More than 1,200 people have attended the public funeral service for teenage apprentice jockey Caitlin Forrest who died from injuries suffered in a race fall in Murray Bridge last week.
Forrest, 19, had been leading the race when her horse broke down at the halfway stage, bringing down three other horses.
Family, friends and colleagues attended Thursday's service at the Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide, filling the mounting yard as attendees spilled out into the stands.
Forrest's helmet and whip were placed on the coffin already covered with photos of the apprentice jockey.
Forrest's mother, Yvonne, said her daughter's first love was horses.
"She was riding before she could walk, and soon she was telling me 'I'm going to be a famous rider one day'," she said.
"Racing was in her blood. She loved to ride and she loved her friends, she cared for them all.
"From her first ride, to her last ride, she loved every minute.
"She is my beautiful daughter, my rock, my world, she'll be forever in my heart."
Younger brother, Corey, told mourners he missed his sister very much.
"I hate that I will never see her again," he said.
"She was my only sister. Even though I was always annoying her, I loved her more than anything in the world."
'Next young gun, with the world at her feet'
South Australian champion jockey Clare Lindop remembered Forrest as someone with a "heart of gold".
"Caitlin had an aura about her, a presence that made you instantly feel good," Lindop said.
"She made people smile, even when they didn't feel like it.
"She was full of energy and fun, with cheeky one-liners that only she could get away with."
Lindop said Caitlin was recognised for her work ethic.
"She was the new kid on the block, but a complete natural," she said.
"The next young gun, with the world at her feet."
Forrest's boyfriend, Scott Westover, said he believed he was going to grow old with her.
"I would give all my tomorrows to have one more yesterday with her," he said.
Jockeys past and present joined pony club members to form a guard of honour as the coffin was driven down the straight at Morphetville as her 51 rides were played on the racecourse big screen.
