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Sport Nation
FIFA World Cup guideTributes flow for champion jumper West Coast
Sport Nation • June 15th, 2026 12:30 pm
Champion Jumper West Coast
New Zealand racing is in mourning after the death of champion jumper West Coast, with the loss sending shockwaves through the sport.
Trackside’s Justin Evans summed up the feeling when speaking to Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy.
“It was probably one of the darkest days on the New Zealand turf we’ve ever had. Really, really heartbreaking stuff.”
West Coast, regarded as one of the greatest jumpers of modern times and firmly in the conversation as the best of all time, suffered a fatal injury in the Waikato Steeplechase after landing awkwardly.
Evans said the incident was as rare as it was devastating.
“He didn’t take one of the jumps overly well, which is very rare for him. One of his greatest attributes was his jumping ability.”
“Unfortunately, on this very rare occasion, he just got one slightly awkward. He was not able to be saved.”
The impact of his loss has been felt right across the racing community.
“This isn’t too far removed because of the place this horse held in all of our hearts.”
That emotion was echoed by caller and presenter Brendan Popplewell, who was on course at Te Rapa, describing the eerie silence that followed the fall.
“It was quite a sombre mood on track. You could honestly hear a pin drop,” Popplewell told Sport Nation Mornings.
“We were unsure about what had happened to West Coast, what had happened with Josh Parker. The unknowing of is he going to get up, what’s happened. When you’re watching and then seeing the screens go up around him, it was pretty hard to take.”
As the situation unfolded, the gravity of the moment became clear.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in sight because of what he’d done on the racetrack and how much of a warrior he was. He was really a people’s horse,” Popplewell said.
West Coast’s popularity extended far beyond the jumps code, becoming one of those rare horses that captured widespread attention.
“He was one of those horses that make you come to the races,” Popplewell said.
His record backs up that standing, with a career few can match.
“His deeds on the racetrack are almost unmatched,” Evans said. “Three Grand Nationals, two Northern Steeplechases, a Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, a Wellington Steeplechase, a Manawatu Steeplechase. The list goes on.”
Popplewell said those achievements, particularly his dominance in staying races, cement his legacy.
“Any horse that can complete a treble of Grand Nationals is pretty incredible,” he said.
“He found his true passion in life and that was to be a jumper, and he was a damn good jumper as well.”
Evans also paid tribute to those closest to the horse.
“I just want to send out my condolences to the Williamson family, to Mark Oulaghan, to Sean Fannin, to Josh Parker, and to anybody who’s been associated with West Coast,” he said.
There was also acknowledgement of the difficult role carried out by track staff in the aftermath.
“And a shout out to the horse ambulance staff who have to deal with some pretty nasty stuff at times. I’m sure this one was no fun at all having to make that call on such a champion,” Evans said.
For Popplewell, the setting only added to the poignancy.
“He died doing what he loved on a racetrack where he’d never been beaten,” he said.
A giant of the jumping game and a horse that transcended it, West Coast leaves behind a legacy that will endure.
“Rest in peace, big boy. Hopefully he’s up there eating some carrots. What a career he had.” Evans said.
Listen to the full interview:
