Keagan Kirkby was a promising young jockey who tragically lost his life in a horse riding accident in February 2023. He was only 25 years old and had a bright future ahead of him in the sport he loved. But who was the woman by his side, who witnessed his fatal fall and told him she loved him as he passed away? This is the story of Emily Burge, Keagan Kirkby’s girlfriend.
How Emily Burge and Keagan Kirkby Met?
Emily, 21, is a professional groom who works at a racing yard in Taunton, Somerset. She met Keagan Kirkby on a blind date in August 2022, after being set up by a mutual friend. They hit it off right away and soon became inseparable. Emily said that Keagan was “the light at the end of a long week at work” and that they had “so many plans over the summer to go to the Lakes and show him where I grew up to in Exmoor”.
Emily and Keagan shared a passion for horses and racing, as they both had backgrounds in the equestrian world. Emily was a trainee jockey in Ireland before she suffered a serious fall that ended her riding career. Keagan was a talented amateur rider who had raced for champion trainer Paul Nicholls and was looking forward to riding at Newbury and Cheltenham. They would talk about horses and racing all the time, and Emily said that Keagan was “like the walking Racing Post”.
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The Tragic Day
On February 5, 2023, Emily and Keagan went to the Charing point-to-point in Kent, where Keagan was riding in three races. He had already finished fourth and second in his first two races, and was riding in the final event of the day. Emily was watching from the sidelines with Keagan’s grandfather, David Young, who had guided him through his equestrian career.
But disaster struck in the second circuit of the race, when Keagan’s horse ran through the wing of a fence and threw him off. Emily ran onto the course to be with him, as paramedics and doctors tried to save his life. She said: “They thought he was winded but when I got there they had put green screens around him. He was not conscious but I told him I loved him before he was declared dead. He died doing something he loved.”
Emily said that the accident was no one’s fault, and that one of the other jockeys told her that there was nothing any rider could have done to avoid what happened. She praised the medical staff for doing all they could, and said that an air ambulance was also on the scene.
The Heartfelt Tribute
After Keagan’s death, Emily Burge posted a message to him on social media, expressing her grief and love for him. She wrote: “I never thought in a million years I would find someone like you who cared and looked after me the way you did. I’m absolutely heartbroken and always will be. You were the light at the end of a long week at work. We had so many plans over the summer to go to the Lakes and show you where I grew up to in Exmoor. I know I will always been your doughnut and you will always be my princess. I’m so sorry and I will love you forever. Lots of love Em and Mabel. Forever and always keag.”
Mabel is the name of their pet dog, a cocker spaniel, who was also part of their family. Emily said that Keagan was a gentleman who never had a bad word to say about anyone, and that everybody loved him. She said that he was very understanding and never raised his voice. She also said that he was very funny and made her laugh all the time.
Emily met with Keagan’s family to start making arrangements for his funeral, which was attended by hundreds of people from the racing community. They paid tribute to Keagan’s life and career, and remembered him as a kind, talented, and brave young man. Emily said that Keagan was her soulmate and that she will always miss him.
The Legacy
Keagan Kirkby’s death was a huge loss for the racing world, as he was one of the rising stars of the sport. He had won 12 races in his career, and had ridden for some of the top trainers in the country. He was also a popular and respected figure among his peers and colleagues, who admired his skill and dedication. He had a dream of becoming a professional jockey, and was working hard to achieve it.
Emily Burge’s life was changed forever by the tragedy, as she lost her partner and best friend. She said that Keagan was her everything, and that they had a perfect relationship. She said that she will always cherish the memories they made together, and that she will never forget him. She said that she hopes to keep his legacy alive by supporting the sport he loved, and by raising awareness of the risks and rewards of racing.
Emily and Keagan’s story is one of love, passion, and tragedy. They were a young couple who shared a common bond and a bright future, but fate had other plans. They were taken apart by a cruel twist of fate, but they will always be together in spirit. They were Burge and Keagan Kirkby, and this is their story.
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