Former Irish jockey makes heartfelt and powerful plea following death of young rider
Teenager Tommie Jakes was found dead at his home in Newmarket
Fran Berry has made a passionate plea to jockeys, people in racing and people in general to pick up the phone and talk to their friends following the death of young rider Tommie Jakes.
Jakes, 19, was found dead at his home in Newmarket on Thursday morning. Tributes have been pouring in for the teenager from within the world of racing and beyond over recent days.
Former jockey Berry spoke of the importance for people to reach out if they are struggling and for others to pick up the phone and call friends they think might have gone a bit quiet.
"The one thing we want to say is there's help there for people in the industry, in Ireland and in England, and it's very important to pick up the phone to your friends and talk to them because we don't want to do this again," Berry said on Racing TV. "It's not right and you feel so sorry for them all.
"Just talk to your friends, pick up the phone. It's a lonely existence riding, going racing, especially in England. It's relentless. It's getting relentless here - the eight-day demands of the industry, demands on people and every day can't be a good day.
"You're of an age that you got high expectations. It can't always go your way, but you need the right support network around you. I was lucky, I had family around me, I had everybody that you could talk to, used to be in the car with three or four fellas, they could know if you're having a good day, a bad day, pick up the phone to you.
"If you have friends at home you haven't heard from in awhile or that you think are in a bit of a low, just pick up the phone, have a chat with them. You don't have to say much. We're often all the better when we get a few drinks, you might say something then it's never mentioned again, but just talk and just pick up the phone.
"If you think someone has gone a bit quiet, we can all send a message now and again, just pick up the phone and talk to people. It's so important."
He added: "With social media, everything is overanalysed in there's no balance to it. It's either very high or very low. You're either a hero or you're zero and the extent of the abuse you can get on social media if you're having a bad run, get beat on a favourite, can really have an impact on young riders.
"I always say I'd hate to be starting out, making the mistakes I made in the first five or six years of my career, but even all the way through your career, but in the early days it would have a huge effect on you.
"I think that's something we should all bear in mind, the demands that are on riders, on racing people, on people in general."
Jakes secured 59 victories over the past three years on the Flat in Britain, including 19 in 2025. His most recent triumph came when partnering George Boughey's Fouroneohfever at Catterick on October 18. He had one ride at Nottingham on Wednesday.
A joint-statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund and Professional Jockeys Association read: "It is with deep sadness that we report the death of licensed apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes, 19, who tragically died at home this morning near Newmarket.
"Tommie was a much-loved son and brother, and a popular member of George Boughey's racing team.
"His parents Jeremy and Tonie ask that their privacy is respected at this terrible time."
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