Lucky escape for apprentice jockey Tahlia Fenlon after horse dislodges her at Ipswich race meeting

Tahlia Fenlon has been described as a ‘tough little bugger’ by her father after the frightening incident at the Ipswich race meeting this week. Read what happened.

Rising Queensland apprentice jockey Tahlia Fenlon had a lucky escape after her mount dislodged her at the Ipswich race meeting this week. Picture: Racing Queensland.

Apprentice jockey Tahlia Fenlon “miraculously” escaped serious injury when a mount she was riding stumbled and dislodged her at Ipswich races on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old came to grief when Typhoon Tip stumbled and then rolled on top of her as she was riding it out of the mounting yard to go to the barriers for its race.

Those at the racecourse who witnessed the accident feared the worst.

She was unable to get her right foot out of the stirrup iron and was unable to free herself as Typhoon Tip crashed to the ground.

Paramedics were quickly on the scene.

To everyone’s relief, Tahlia was not concussed and with their assistance, she was able to walk to the awaiting ambulance.

She was transported to Ipswich Hospital for more detailed examinations, as well as having x-rays taken.

These revealed no fractures with Tahlia’s injuries restricted to soreness and bruising to her left side around the upper leg and thigh, as well as the right foot.

Her father, Rockhampton racing identity Tony Fenlon, provided details of the incident.

“Tahlia was discharged at 11.30pm Wednesday and then caught a taxi to her car (at the racecourse) before driving herself home to Brisbane,” he said.

Tahlia Fenlon will win the RJC apprentice jockey 2023/24 premiership.

Tahlia was issued with a medical certificate from hospital doctors for being unfit to resume riding until next Wednesday.

Tenacious and resilient, registered at a riding weight of 50kg, Fenlon arranged an appointment on Thursday afternoon with her own doctor in Brisbane.

Tony, describing his daughter affectionately in typical Australian lingo as a “tough little bugger”, said she was hoping to obtain a medical clearance to resume riding sooner.

His description as being “tough” is a given and typifies the majority of jockeys.

The day before her Ipswich misadventure, Tahlia rode Discovered Gold to victory at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park.

While it is said “a week in politics is a long time”, it just goes to show that “24 hours in racing” is much longer and even more uncertain.

Tahlia is enjoying a stellar season in Brisbane with trainer Chris Munce after having her indentures transferred from Rockhampton’s Fred Smith.

Next Tuesday, she will become the winner of the RJC’s apprentice jockey 2023/24 premiership, which will read well on her CV along with previous such wins here, Mackay and elsewhere.

Originally published as Lucky escape for apprentice jockey Tahlia Fenlon after horse dislodges her at Ipswich race meeting