Written by Bryan Littlely
Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tributes have flowed for dedicated and talented horsewoman Kerrie van Tijn, the farm manager of China Horse Club’s Southern Highlands farm, The Chase, as the thoroughbred racing industry mourns her death.
China Horse Club posted late Monday the news of van Tijn’s death in a tragic road crash, celebrating her as a “wonderful woman, talent, friend, colleague, mentor, mother and daughter.’’
Kerrie van Tijn
Van Tijn, 47, died at the scene of the crash in Mittagong. The motorcycle she was riding and an SUV had collided just before 1.30pm Sunday.
China Horse Club's Michael Smith described van Tijn as an absolutely wonderful woman with so much energy and life about her.
"She was very relatable and also very good at her job,'' Smith said. "The staff loved working for her and also the horses thrived in her care. We were just very lucky to have her for the time we did.''
"The staff loved working for her (Kerrie van Tijn) and also the horses thrived in her care. We were just very lucky to have her for the time we did.'' - Michael Smith
Van Tijn had managed The Chase for just over one year. She had previously had success as a trainer in South Australia, with 14 winners to her name.
The news of her sudden death was met with messages coming from across the industry, including Newgate Farm fresh from a long working week alongside China Horse Club in partnership buying yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“Such sad news. Puts life in perspective. RIP Kerrie.” read a twitter post from Newgate.
Michael Wallace, who only left the position of Chief Operating Officer of China Horse Club at the end of last year and was on the ground at the Magic Millions Sale across last week, buying in partnership with Freedman Brothers Racing, also left his tribute.
It reads: “A lovely, talented, hard working mother, friend and colleague. Taken too soon.”
Top jockey Tommy Berry, race trainers, racing media and a host of others from right across the industry already have left tributes for van Tijn .
