Filip Minarik, the former four-time champion jockey in Germany, died on Monday at the age of 48.
Born in the Czech Republic, Minarik rode in Germany from 1992 and by the time of his enforced retirement following a race fall in July 2020 had posted 1,669 wins in the country that had become his second home. He was champion jockey in 2005, 2011, 2016 and 2017, and rode 14 Group 1 winners during that time, including four victories in each of the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern.
As well as riding in France and Japan, he captained the winning European team in the Shergar Cup of 2019 when riding Stone Of Destiny (GB) to victory at Ascot for Andrew Balding.
The following year, Minarik was seriously injured in a race fall at Mannheim and spent four weeks in an induced coma after being hospitalised with head injuries and a broken leg and ankle. He was eventually released from hospital in November 2020 but the extent of his brain injury meant he was unable to resume his career in the saddle.
Daniel Krüger, managing director of Deutscher Galopp, said, “With Filip Minarik we are losing a valued colleague and true friend who loved horse racing since he was a child. I am shocked and deeply saddened.”
Minarik is survived by his wife Katja and daughter Finja.
Speaking to Germany's Galopponline website, Katja Minarik said, “We fought so hard, but in the end we lost the battle against the ever-increasing depression. We need time to realise and process what has happened.”
Very very sad day RIP Filip.
Fantastic Jockey even better person
This was only Sunday in Baden. pic.twitter.com/Lwnp8tRiMH— Luke Morris (@Luke_Morris88) September 5, 2023
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