Jockey Chris Caserta found dead by Gold Coast police

Deceased jockey Chris Caserta
Chris Caserta returns to the mounting yard on Trogir after winning the Moorookyle Park Handicap at Caulfield. (Racing.com)

The Victorian Jockeys’ Association (VJA) has this morning confirmed that the body of missing jockey Chris Caserta has been found, bringing an end to a 36-hour search.

“It is with great sadness the VJA can confirm the family have advised that police have found the body of Chris Caserta,” the statement read.

The Gold Coast-based rider went missing on Wednesday at Surfers Paradise Beach during a late-night swim with a friend who was rescued by bystanders.

Queensland Police announced on Thursday afternoon that the timeframe for survival had expired and that it was now a search mission rather than a search and rescue.

The fifth race at Ipswich on Friday afternoon will be made even more memorable for connections if Gem Of The Lochs can land her third-straight win.

Caserta rode the grey mare to her past two wins, while his partner, Brittany Wise, is in the ownership group and her father, Steven, is the trainer.

Tributes have come flowing in from friends of the 26-year-old jockey and other members of the racing community, with a number of people describing him as loving, hard-working and enthusiastic towards life.

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