An apprentice jockey died today after he fell from a horse and was apparently trampled by the animal which went wild.

The freak accident happened at the Turf Club in Kranji this morning.

The Turf Club said in a statement that apprentice jockey Wong Wei Xiang, 25, was riding Nopaynohay on Track No 3 for his master Stephen Gray when the accident occurred. It did not say whether the horse trampled on him.

But eye witnesses quoted by Lianhe Wanbao said after Wong fell, the horse trampled on him several times. After stomping on him, the horse ran wild and calmed down only 10 minutes later.

Medical assistance was immediately rendered to Wong after the fall, said the Turf Club. He was sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A Singapore Training Academy for Racing graduate, Wong was granted his apprentice jockey's licence by the Malayan Racing Association in January last year.

The Turf Club said it is extending its support to Wong's family and will be conducting an investigation into the accident.