Leeds Intelligencer 14th October 1854 Bradford Races - fatal accident. Races have for some years been celebrated on Bradford Moor, and these annual sports were again commenced on Monday last. The races, however, have usually been run in the absence of all order and regulation. The course is unprotected and there is no person responsible for the management. Several races were run on Monday but we regret to say that they were attended with fatal consequences. In the first heat of the first race the rider of one of the horses was thrown, and received such injuries that he died the same evening. The unfortunate person was JOHN FLETCHER, of the Hare and Hounds Inn, Wibsey Bank Foot. The horse belonged to Mr Cliffe of Morley, butcher. it bolted from the course, and dashing amongst the crowd, leapt over a small cart which was standing in the way, caught with its hind legs upon the pony, and rolled upon the ground. Fletcher fell off and the horse rolled on him inflicting such injuries as to cause the man's death. The chief constable attended by several officers appeared on the ground on Tuesday afternoon, and stated that no races should take place, and warned all owners of horses against running. This had the desired effect, and though thousands of persons had assembled together there was suddenly an end to the whole affair. This is of interest to me as I think that the deceased jockey was one of my ancestors. When I got the death certificate for him I thought that the age was wrong (but if he was a jockey he may have been very small) So I ahve been trying to find other sources to give me more information. Unfortunately this newspaper article did not give his age of who his family might have been. The Directory for the leeds and Clothing Districts, Whites 1853, gives Hare and Hounds, Squire Tordoff, Bank Top. would this be the same place ? As I do not know the area , would any of you wise and knowledgeable folk know where someone would be buried in 1854 if they came from Wibsey Bank Top, my next hope is there might be a memorial inscription or burial record. Many thanks Marion M