Prominent Victorian racecourse fined $250,000 after young jockey dies horrifically after being thrown from horse

Cranbourne Turf Club Inc. was fined $250,000 after a 22-year-old rider died during predawn horse training exercises in August 2019.

The club was convicted in Melbourne County Court last month after pleading guilty to a charge of “failing to ensure that persons other than employees were not exposed to any health and safety risks arising from the conduct of its business”. .

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Apprentice jockey Mikaela Claridge, 22, was thrown from her horse after it became scared while riding in the dark on the morning of August 30, 2019. She died at the scene.

Her training partner, who was also thrown from her horse, was unharmed.

A WorkSafe probe found that there were several features on the racetrack that could have startled a horse, e.g. B. overhanging branches, puddles of water and other horses or wild animals in the vicinity of the circuit.

The court heard it was reasonably practicable for Cranbourne Turf Club to reduce health and safety risks by installing floodlights around the path to ensure visibility in darker conditions or by limiting access to the path to daylight hours.

Narelle Beer, Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe, said this tragic incident underscores the importance of assessing health and safety risks and taking control actions.

“Although some safety measures, such as changing operating hours, may seem minor, failure to implement them can have unimaginably painful consequences,” said Dr. beer

“WorkSafe will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who fails to meet their duty to ensure their workplaces and work practices are safe and risk-free.”

–With AAP.