The jockey who won a race after he died
In June 1923, jockey Frank Hayes suffered a fatal heart attack mid-race while riding a horse named Sweet Kiss at Belmont Park. Amazingly, his body remained upright and firmly in the saddle. Sweet Kiss crossed the finish line first, making Hayes the first, and only, jockey to win a horse race after death. His condition was only discovered when the owner went to congratulate him.
An Unlikely Pairing at Belmont Park
On June 4, 1923, the crowd at Belmont Park in New York gathered for what appeared to be a standard afternoon steeplechase. Among the competitors was Frank Hayes, a man who worked primarily as a stable hand and horse trainer rather than a celebrated jockey. Hayes had spent years around Thoroughbreds, caring for them, conditioning them, and watching professional riders take the spotlight from the ground. Riding in a competitive race was a rare opportunity for him, and he had never won a race as a jockey prior to that afternoon.
Hayes was paired with Sweet Kiss, a seven-year-old mare owned by Miss A. M. Frayling. Sweet Kiss was viewed as a long shot by the betting public, carrying odds around 20-1. She was not expected to dominate the field, nor was Hayes expected to outride the seasoned jockeys alongside him. For Hayes, simply securing the mount was an achievement, representing a chance to prove his capabilities in the saddle on a major stage.
The Severe Toll of Making Weight
In the days and hours leading up to the race, Hayes underwent an intense physical ordeal to meet the strict weight requirements for the event. Steeplechase and flat racing enforce strict weight limits to ensure competitive fairness, meaning riders frequently resort to extreme measures to drop pounds quickly. Hayes engaged in heavy sweating and severe calorie restriction to shed the necessary weight in a very short window.
This rapid dehydration placed an immense strain on his cardiovascular system. Combined with the sheer physical exertion required to steer and balance an unpredictable thoroughbred over jumps, Hayes entered the starting gate in a physically depleted state. The extreme stress on his heart, driven by the combination of rapid weight-cutting, exertion, and the adrenaline of the race, set the stage for what happened on the track.