Young rider Lizz Rice injured in freak Caulfield training accident loses her fight for life

TRACK rider Lizz Rice, who suffered head injuries when she fell from a horse at Caulfield on January 12, died in the Alfred Hospital on Saturday morning.

Caulfield Cup Races

YOUNG track rider Lizz Rice passed away in the Alfred Hospital on Saturday morning.

Rice, who was on a working holiday as a rider with Aquanita at Caulfield, suffered head injuries when she fell from a horse in training at Caulfield on January 12.

Des O'Keeffe says “thoughts and prayers of all within the riding community are with the family and friends of Lizz”.

Racing Victoria and the Victorian Jockeys’ Association have paid tribute to the 26-year-old from the United Kingdom, who has been in Australia on a two-year working visa.

She had worked with Aquanita since the spring of 2014 after stints in NSW and Queensland.

Her mother Anne and sister Catherine, who flew in a fortnight ago from the UK, were at her side when he died after her machine was turned off on Thursday.

“On behalf of all industry participants in Victoria, Racing Victoria extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Lizz Rice following her tragic passing as a result of a freak training accident,” said Racing Victora chief executive Bernard Saundry.

“We also extend our deepest condolences to Lizz’s family and friends back home in the UK, her partner Justin, and the team at Aquanita Racing at this difficult and sad time.

“By all accounts, Lizz was an extremely capable young rider who loved her work and the pain of her passing is felt by everyone in the Caulfield training community and in the wider racing industry.”

VJA executive officer, Des O’Keeffe, said, “The thoughts and prayers of all within the riding community are with the family and friends of Lizz upon the news of her tragic passing.

“We’d also like to acknowledge the great support afforded by Aquanita Racing, in particular Peter Oliver and Stuart Webb, during this incredibly tough time for the Rice family.”

Rice, who fell from the horse when riding it back to the stables after it had a swim, was treated at the site by paramedics before being taken to the Alfred Hospital where she was placed in an induced coma.

She did not regain consciousness following the accident and with no prospect of recovery the decision was made this week to withdraw the medication keeping her alive.

The Melbourne Racing Club, who manage the training and racing facilities at Caulfield, and Aquanita Racing have assisted WorkSafe with an investigation into the accident.

RV and the VJA have and will continue to assist the family and friends of Ms Rice with counselling and other support services.

Racing Victoria has extended its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Lizz Rice following her tragic passing.