Apprentice Jockey Marina Morel's Death Prompts Australian Racing Inquest

Apprentice jockey Marina Morel, 30, died after a routine track work session at Gulgong Turf Club on 8 February 2022 when the mare Lina's Choice collapsed, shattering its leg. Morel was thrown from the horse, pinned under it and was air‑lifted to Sydney's Westmead Hospital, where she succumbed four days later to blunt‑force head and neck injuries.

A coronial inquest into the incident, led by Counsel Assisting the Coroner David Kell, resumed on 23 July 2026. Kell urged the racing industry to act on lessons from the tragedy. Trainer Brett Thompson testified that the horse had been returned to training and moved between yards earlier than veterinary advice recommended, despite his daily checks for lameness. The close‑knit Gulgong racing community described the loss as a profound shock.

The inquest heard from Thompson, Morel’s colleagues and veterinary experts, and highlighted concerns about horse‑training practices and safety protocols intended to prevent further such fatalities.