The Irish equestrian community continues to mourn Tiggy Hancock. Tiggy was a rising star of the Irish equestrian world but she tragically died this week after falling from a horse. She was only 15.
Today at Royal Ascot, all jockeys involved in the day's racing paid tribute to Tiggy by wearing a yellow ribbon. Tiggy was always seen wearing a yellow jockey at horsejumping events.
Speaking to At The Races, Irish jockey Oisin Murphy spoke emotionally about why the jockeys took the decision to wear the yellow ribbon.
Today at @Ascot, Jockeys will be wearing yellow armbands in memory of Tiggy Hancock, who lost her life in an eventing accident.
Tiggy, 15, was one of the young stars on the equestrian circuit and was never seen without her yellow ribbons at an event.pic.twitter.com/tcljv5m1FS— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) June 19, 2021
Murphy said: "There's no words to describe how her family are feeling... We all grew up as jockeys riding ponies. There's nothing that can really describe how they're feeling... I just wanted to say that we're all thinking of her and her family."
The jockeys at Ascot are all wearing yellow ribbons this afternoon in memory of Tiggy Hancock, who passed away this week after a fall from her pony.
Tiggy was a bright young star on the equestrian circuit. 💛 pic.twitter.com/Ht7erjKxdM— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 19, 2021
Viewers at home were moved by the gesture.
Beautiful gesture by all jockeys at Royal Ascot today, wearing yellow ribbons in memory of Tiggy Hancock 💛
— Aoife Boland (@BolandAoife) June 19, 2021
@SkySportsRacing My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Tiggy Hancock, who sadly lost her precious young life doing the thing that she loved horse riding. Well done to Oisin getting all of the jockeys to wear yellow ribbons in Tiggy’s honour. God Bless. ❤️🐴🕊
— BookEmDanno_ (@BookEmDannoooo) June 19, 2021
Joe Reynolds of Horse Sport Ireland spoke glowingly of Hancock in the Irish Times yesterday. “She was competent, confident, and also, it is hugely important, she was well liked by her peers, the trainers, by everybody that interacted with her."
Tiggy's mother Jane wrote a beautiful tribute to her daughter on social media this week.
"Thank you so much to everyone. Every memory of our beloved Tiggy is so precious."
“Please remember to look up and laugh and live through these difficult days as she would hate to see you sad.
It has been confirmed that Hancock's funeral will take place on Monday and streamed online.
