Jockey Kristy Bennett is awake and opening her eyes 20 days after a shocking fall at Gold Coast trials, but doctors have warned she will face severe disabilities. The 29-year-old suffered bleeding on the brain and two spinal fractures when she was dislodged after her horse went down on June 2.
Heartening Update from Family
Bennett was unconscious but breathing when taken away in an ambulance and later moved to Southport University Hospital for surgery. The Western Australian jockey, who had recently moved to Queensland for a change of scenery, was placed in an induced coma. A heartening update on her condition emerged via her sister Bella.
“Big news: she’s awake,” Bella wrote on Sunday. “Her eyes have been open most of today for the first time since the accident.”
Severe Brain Injury but Signs of Progress
Bennett has been diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury, but she has already been reaching for a picture of her dog Gus among other movements. “We’re observing her reacting to discomfort by pulling at her feeding tube and neck brace,” Bella said. “While she hasn’t yet followed commands, she appears agitated when we stop her. It’s wonderful that she’s responding to her body.”
Bennett’s body has been ravaged by the fall, but she is now breathing and coughing on her own, sparking confidence that her tracheostomy could be removed next week.
Long Road to Recovery
“Doctors say the next 18 months of rehab will show us where her baseline is,” Bella said of the brain injuries. “What this means is she will have severe disabilities; we are unsure of the extent at this time. She also has two spinal fractures and a torn ligament in her neck but the team is confident she’ll walk again with lots of physio. What’s next: day by day. Rest, neuro rehab and then physio.”
Bennett's Racing Career
Bennett had been riding trackwork on the Gold Coast for top local trainer Tony Gollan, while also seeking greater opportunities across Queensland. Gollan Racing welcomed the “heartwarming news” on Bennett’s condition. Bennett has won 186 races since beginning her career in 2018, landing her first ride and later first winner aboard the Paul Jordan-trained Chinetti at Belmont Park.
She landed her first Saturday winner aboard the David Harrison-prepared Patristic in January 2020, with that revered WA trainer later giving her a maiden Group race steer on Media Baron. Bennett later scored a treble on Perth Cup day, which she regards as a career highlight, and has ridden in a handful of Group and Listed events.
At the beginning of this year, Bennett felt her momentum waning and wished for a change of scenery, switching to Queensland racing. “I just got to the point of my life where I wanted to experience something new and have a new challenge,” she said in May, just two weeks before her accident. “I did enjoy Perth and I was still getting opportunities. But I just needed something to challenge myself more. I’m really into my fitness. I love the gym and I love that sort of lifestyle.”
