A turf club has been fined $250,000 over the death of a young jockey in Melbourne’s south-east.

Apprentice jockey Mikaela Claridge, 22, was thrown from her horse after it became spooked while riding in darkness on the morning of August 30, 2019.

Jockey Mikaela Claridge died in a trackwork fall in August 2019.Credit:Racing Photos

Claridge died at the scene. Her training partner, who was also thrown from their horse, was not injured.

A WorkSafe probe found there were several features on the track that could have spooked a horse, such as overhanging tree branches, pooled water and other horses or wildlife near the track.

Cranbourne Turf Club Inc was last month fined $250,000 after pleading guilty in the County Court to a charge of failing to ensure a person other than an employee was not exposed to health and safety risks.

The court heard Cranbourne Turf Club could reduce risks by installing floodlights along the trail or limiting riders to using it only in daylight hours.

WorkSafe health and safety executive director Narelle Beer said on Wednesday the incident showed just how important it was to assess risks and address them.

“Although some safety measures such as changing operating hours may seem minor, a failure to implement them can lead to unimaginably painful consequences,” Beer said.

AAP

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