Willy Kan

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Willy Kan Wai-yue (簡慧榆) (June 17, 1978–March 21, 1999), was a popular and promising female apprentice jockey from Hong Kong, who had ridden to no less than 17 victories in her short career (1997–1999).

In her last race ever at the Sha Tin Racecourse, the horse she was riding, Happy King (漢廷之寶), clipped the heels of other horses, causing her to fall. As the horses were bunched up together, she was kicked in the chest and head by the horses who could not get out of the way in time. She would die 2 1/2 hours later in hospital.

As a mark of respect, the rest of the card in Sha Tin on that day was cancelled. And in her honour, the trophy awarded to the Champion Apprentice each season has now been renamed the "Willy Kan Memorial Cup".

She was the first jockey to die racing in Hong Kong since Brian Taylor in 1984.