Race in memory of budding jockey Jamie Yeates

- Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A Teenager who dreamed of becoming a champion jockey was paid a fitting tribute in the form of a memorial race run in his name.

Jamie Yeates, aged 15, was stabbed to death by his stepfather as he slept in the early hours of January this year.

Carl Wayne Bowen, aged 42, is currently on trial for the murder of the teenager at their terraced home in Llanelli.

A jury at Swansea Crown Court has heard that Bowen denies murder, but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

His teenage stepson's overriding ambition to become a professional flat race jockey was given a public tribute yesterday.

Ffos Las racecourse, in Trimsaran, opened last month to wide acclaim as the first turf course completed in the UK, at the cost of £20 million, for more than 80 years.

The first flat racing meet took place yesterday, with the first race christened The EBF/Jamie Yeates Maiden Stakes.

Despite the rain, several thousand people had turned out to witness Our Dream Queen, ridden by Michael Hills, romp home in the race for two-year-olds.

Afterwards, Maria Jenkins, the teenager's mother, presented the race winner with a prize.

Also present was Alison Thorpe, trainer at the Carmarthen stables attended by the youngster.

Jamie was known to everybody as "Little Spencer", because top jockey Jamie Spencer was his sporting hero.

Mrs Thorpe paid her own moving tribute to him after watching the memorial race with his mother.

"If he had been alive, I am sure he would been here today, leading out one of the horses," she said.