Jockey Mikaela Claridge’s family launches legal fight against Cranbourne Racecourse

The family of Mikaela Claridge has begun a court fight for damages after the young jockey died when thrown from her horse.

Mikaela Claridge died after a fall at Cranbourne Racecourse. Picture: Getty Images

The heartbroken family and friend of a young jockey killed when she was thrown from her horse have launched a legal fight against the Victorian turf club over her death.

Mikaela Claridge, 22, was riding a section of track known as the sand trails at Cranbourne racecourse when her horse, Dharma, was startled in the early hours of August 30, 2019.

The apprentice jockey was trotting with a training partner when the two horses were spooked and both women fell onto the unlit track.

While her riding mate was able to get up and walk away, Ms Claridge suffered critical head injuries and died at the scene.

Mikaela Claridge’s horse threw her off when it was spooked on a training ride.

Claridge’s parents and brothers are suing the racecourse for pain and suffering.

Now her devastated family, including her parents Colleen and Bernie and two brothers, Karl and Jack, are suing the Cranbourne turf club for the pain and suffering they’ve endured since the tragedy.

Fellow jockey and friend of Ms Claridge, Chelsea Hall, is also a party in the County Court legal action.

In court documents obtained by the Herald Sun, Ms Hall and the Claridge family allege Mikaela’s death was caused by the negligence of the club and Saloon Park Pty Ltd – which is the registered name of her employer Ken Keys Racing.

Following a WorkSafe investigation, the turf club was charged in February last year with six breaches of the workplace safety act, including failing to ensure a safe workplace.

A court heard Claridge had spoken about how dark it was at the course. Picture: Getty Images

Saloon Park was charged with one count of failing to provide a system of work.

During a contested committal in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November, prosecutors alleged witnesses heard Ms Claridge speak about how dark the track was in the moments before her death.

Prosecutors told the court the sand trails track was “not well lit” and stretched through dense bushland with wildlife observed on the track from “time to time”.

The accused companies have pleaded not guilty and are due to face trial in March next year.

Prior to her death Ms Claridge had overcome a serious spinal injury to return to racing in 2017, scoring her maiden victory on her home track in Echuca just a year before tragedy struck.

Her passing also came just a few short months after she wed her “dream husband” in her Echuca.

In a death notice published by her family, her parents and siblings said their “hearts are broken to a point where moving forward will be a very emotional hurdle we all have to cross in time”.
“The joy and happiness you brought to our family and the people around you was immeasurable and infectious,” the notice read.
“You captivated everyone with your mischievous humour and smile which will live on in our hearts forever.”
The family was contacted but declined to comment on the civil suit.