City jockey sues over horror fall

TOOWOOMBA jockey Ruby Ride, 29, claims she had a “career-ending injury’’ from a fall from a horse in a race at Doomben four years ago and is suing insurers and Racing Australia.

Ms Ride was an apprentice jockey when the horse she was riding on July 12, 2017, had a heart attack, during the race at Doomben Racecourse, her claim says.

The horse suddenly veered into a fence as it fell, Ms Ride fell to the ground and the horse rolled onto her, according to the claim.

As a result of the fall, Ms Ride suffered damage to her pelvis and other injuries, including trauma and bruising to her pelvic area and buttocks, the Brisbane District Court claim says.

While insured, she then developed a chronic pain condition related to her sacroiliac joints with associated lumbar back pain, it is alleged.

The claim says the condition, which is permanent and will not improve, has entirely prevented Ms Ride from being a jockey or performing any horseracing occupation.

It was reported that at the time of her 2017 injury she was one of Queensland’s most promising apprentices.

Ms Ride submitted an insurance claim to QBE Insurance in January, 2019, but in April that year she was notified that the insurer had denied any liability for the condition under her policy.

Ms Ride’s claim says the insurer is liable to pay her a total permanent disability benefit of $350,000 or $125,000 for a career-ending injury benefit.

She is seeking damages for breach of contract or money owed as a debt under the policy. Ms Ride has filed a separate claim against TAL Life Limited and AustralianSuper Pty Ltd, as she was an insured member of a super fund.

The insurers and Racing Australia are yet to respond to the claims in court.