‘I made it out alive’: Female jockey’s heartbreaking update nearly two years after falling from her horse as she admits ‘my eyesight will not come back’

 Published Date: April 4, 2024


  • Leah Kilner has retired from horse racing 
  • She suffered a near-fatal fall in July 2022 
  • Kilner says she ‘made it out alive’  

By Ollie Lewis

Published: | Updated:

Leah Kilner has retired from horse racing nearly two years on from the horrendous fall that almost killed her. 

The 26-year-old was thrown from her filly, Stella Turn, as the field galloped along the home straight in the third race of the day in Grafton in New South Wales in July 2022.

She was catapulted onto the turf and trampled upon by the horses while Stella Turn stumbled on the home straight. 

During her recovery last year, Kilner admitted there were moments she wished she hadn’t survived and that she stll couldn’t remember the incident. 

But in an Instagram post on Thursday, Kilner was an altogether more positive mood, expressing gratitude for the career she enjoyed before the accident as she publicly announced her retirement. 

Leah Kilner has officially retired from horse racing, she confirmed on Instagram

Leah Kilner has officially retired from horse racing, she confirmed on Instagram

The young rising star fell from her horse at a race in July 2022

The young rising star fell from her horse at a race in July 2022

‘The end of an era…’ she began. 

‘I may not of ended it on my terms, but I made it out alive.

‘After 21 months, countless specialist appointments, ongoing rehab, tests and opinions. It’s time to hang up the boots..no matter the time & patience, my eyesight will not come back, my left side strength&sensation won’t come back to 100% and quite frankly, if I hit my head again I will not walk out of hospital.

‘I guess I knew it was coming & I never wanted to accept it, but seeing my saddles walk out the door made it really hit hard & set in..the career I loved is officially over.

‘There’s been highs & lows no doubt, but I’ve loved every moment & wouldn’t change it for the world.’

Kilner was regarded as one of the best up-and-coming jockeys in the country, riding more than 200 winner during her short career.

She narrowly missed out on the all-time record of 54 victories in the 2021-22 racing season after crossing the line in first place 46 times.

She confirmed that she has lost her eyesight and one more knock to the head will kill her

She confirmed that she has lost her eyesight and one more knock to the head will kill her

But she expressed gratitude for the stellar career she enjoyed in a heartwarming post

But she expressed gratitude for the stellar career she enjoyed in a heartwarming post

LEAH KILNER FULL STATEMENT 

The end of an era…

I may not of ended it on my terms, but I made it out alive.

After 21 months, countless specialist appointments, ongoing rehab, tests and opinions. It’s time to hang up the boots..no matter the time & patience, my eyesight will not come back, my left side strength&sensation won’t come back to 100% and quite frankly, if I hit my head again I will not walk out of hospital.

I guess I knew it was coming & I never wanted to accept it, but seeing my saddles walk out the door made it really hit hard & set in..the career I loved is officially over.

There’s been highs & lows no doubt, but I’ve loved every moment & wouldn’t change it for the world.

I’ve rode winners for mum & dad, uncle Trum & many many friends. I’ve rode on tracks all over nsw & Qld and done a hell of a lot of sweating.

I loved riding trackwork and making special bonds, but I hated wearing 6 jackets, 2 pairs of pants and wrapping myself in gladwrap so I could pull off 2kg every morning.

The countless hours, hours of sweating in a bath, the 6 days a week of not eating & barely a drink, the blood, sweat& tears…I’ll actually weirdly miss it.

Thankyou isn’t enough, but to all the horses, trainers, owners & of course my managers that have been with me on this journey, I’ve been so blessed. So from the bottom of my heart,

thank you. Thankyou for everything.

From the 1st winner to the very last. It’s been a journey.



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