SA apprentice Chelsey Reynolds ‘opening her eyes’, remains in intensive care

Apprentice jockey Chelsey Reynolds continues to make progress after suffering a serious head injury in a trackwork fall last month.

South Australian apprentice Chelsey Reynolds. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

South Australian apprentice jockey Chelsey Reynolds remains in intensive care but has started to open her eyes as she continues to recover from a serious head injury sustained in a trackwork fall last month.

The 29-year-old was flown to Flinders Medical Centre after an incident at a private training property at Finniss on February 13 and has spent most of the time since then in an induced coma, while she underwent delicate surgery last week to release pressure on her brain.

On Friday morning, Racing SA confirmed that Reynolds’ sedation levels are being reduced but there is still a long way to go.

“Chelsey remains in intensive care at the Flinders Medical Centre where she is being treated for a serious head injury,” Racing SA said in a statement.

Update | Chelsey Reynolds
On behalf of Chelsey Reynolds’ family, we provide the following update on her condition.
Chelsey remains in intensive care at the Flinders Medical Centre where she is being treated for a serious head injury.
Her sedation levels are being reduced and she…

— Racing SA (@RacingSA) February 29, 2024

“Her sedation levels are being reduced and she is opening her eyes but not yet responding.

“Chelsey’s family have told us that her recovery is going to be long and slow, but that she will continue to have all the care and love she needs.

“They have also asked us again to thank the community for all their messages of support and that their privacy continues to be respected during this tough time.”

Reynolds, who is indentured to Wayne Francis and Glen Kent and has seven winners from 52 rides, tasted success in her very first race, saluting on The Great Baby at Balaklava on July 30 last year.

Reynolds came to racing later than most, joining Finniss Lodge after working on the horse tram between Victor Harbor and Granite Island.

• Injured jockey to remain in induced coma ‘for days’

She then progressed through the Racing SA trackwork riding skills course before joining the SA Apprentice Academy in December 2022.

“I’ve had my little first pony since I was eight and then did normal trail riding and stuff, and then my other job closed down and that’s when I found Finniss to fill in the spot but I wasn’t meant to stay there. And Glen found out I could ride and it escalated from there,” Reynolds told Racing SA in August.

“I’ve always been good with animals I think, horses and any others I feel like I always get a good feel for them.”

Reynolds’ most recent winner was aboard Pool Pony at Murray Bridge on December 10.

Originally published as SA apprentice Chelsey Reynolds ‘opening her eyes’, remains in intensive care