view raw text
JOCKEY BOURASSA KILLED Canadian Rider Fatally Injured While Galloping Filly at the Havre de Grace Track. HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 17— A fatal accident occurred at the Havre de Grace track this morning, which resulted in the death of the Canadian rider Ovila Bou-rassa. The latter was galloping the Seagram Stable filly Julie H. and, just as they reached the three-eighths post, the saddle slipped and Bourassa was thrown, striking his head against the post. The lads head was split open and he was rushed to the local hospital. He never recovered consciousness and died at 10:13 this morning. TORONTO, Ont., April 17. — Ovila Bourassa was born in Montreal, Que., and was twenty-six years of age. He started on his riding career as an exercise boy with the J. K. L. Ross stable, prior to that having been a bellboy at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal. He had his first winner under the Ross silks in 1924, and stayed with the commander until three years ago when it was decided to curtail activities. Since then Bourassa has been with the Seagram Stable of Waterloo, for which establishment he was the first string rider. He had no trouble scaling under 100 pounds. Bourassa was the leading rider on the Canadian circuit in 1927, and was also well up among the leading riders of America. He earned international fame by riding the Seagram Stables Sir Harry to victory in the rich Coffroth Handicap at Tijuana early last year. The little French-Canadian also included among his numerous stake victories a triumph in the Pimlieo Futurity of 192G when he had the mount on Fair Star. There was no more popular rider in Canada than the deceased, and especially in Toronto, where he had often ridden at Woodbine and Thorncliffe Parks. Short, stout and chubby-faced, Ovila was a striking figure. His wife is a Montreal girl. There are no children. A careful liver, Bourassa is understood to have saved most of his earnings. Jockey Bourassas career on the turf has been brief. He began riding in 1923, but first attracted attention in 1925. when he rode forty-one winners out of 298 mounts. In 1926 he became quite prominent and had 111 winners out of 635 mounts. Last year his record was even better — 120 winners out of 593 mounts. His complete record follows : Yenr. Mts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unp. P.C. 1923 4 1 0 1 2 .23 1924 71 7 16 8 40 .10 1925 298 41 43 40 174 .14 1926 635 111 111 91 322 .17 1927 593 120 109 78 2S« .20 192S 14 0 2 3 9 Totals 1.615 280 281 221 833 .17
