Champion Jockey's Pelvis Crushed in Horrific Starting Gate Fall
Champion jockey Sonja Logan has revealed she was 'nearly killed on the spot' after suffering a devastating pelvic crush injury when the horse she was riding fell on top of her during a starting gate incident last month. The experienced rider, who has 547 career wins to her name, described the excruciating pain as 'the worst I've ever felt in my life'.
A Terrifying Incident at the Barriers
The accident occurred when Logan was aboard Jumping Power Two, a six-year-old gelding trained by her husband Tommy. The horse, who had won his previous four races under Logan's guidance, became spooked while positioned in the starting barriers.
'We were in the barriers when he reared up,' Logan told Mirror Racing. 'The back gate came open and I fell to the ground. He fell on top of me and as soon as he hit me he crushed my pelvis. Then he got stuck on top of me for a bit, which made the pain worse.'
Emergency Medical Response and Surgical Intervention
Emergency services were quickly on the scene, with multiple ambulances attending the incident. Medical personnel administered strong pain relief and fitted Logan with a pelvic brace before transporting her to Darwin Royal Hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries and the lack of specialist pelvic surgeons in Darwin, she was airlifted to Adelaide Royal Hospital for urgent treatment.
'With my break it was pretty much like a car crash impact so I was crushed hip to hip,' Logan explained. 'They put two screws in my right hip and a plate down the bottom with six or seven screws holding it all together.'
A Remarkable Escape from More Serious Injury
Remarkably, Logan considers herself fortunate that the half-ton racehorse landed on her pelvis rather than her upper body. 'The way that he crushed me, if he'd landed on my ribs he would probably have killed me on the spot,' she stated. 'I was just lucky that he landed on my pelvis. With every pelvic break you get internal bleeding but my body managed to stop the bleed. I was very lucky.'
The jockey also expressed relief that she hadn't suffered additional spinal injuries during the traumatic fall, though she admitted the possibility had been frightening during the initial aftermath.
Previous Trauma and Remarkable Resilience
This incident represents the second major trauma Logan has endured in recent years. In 2023, she was the victim of a brutal car-jacking attack just three weeks before her wedding day. During that terrifying ordeal, assailants threw a brick through her car window and smashed her in the face with a rock, breaking her nose in three places, cutting her lip, and breaking her front teeth. The perpetrators were never apprehended.
Following that attack, Logan experienced significant mental health challenges, falling into depression and heavy drinking. She managed to overcome these difficulties through competitive bodybuilding, which helped her regain mental strength and overcome anxiety.
Current Recovery and Future Prospects
Logan is now recuperating at home with the assistance of a walking frame, supported by her husband Tommy who has been helping her with daily tasks including dressing. Her recovery timeline is estimated at six to eight months, depending on healing progress and rehabilitation effectiveness.
'We are looking at six to eight months, it depends on the healing and the rehab,' Logan said. 'I know jockeys that haven't come back from it and others that have. It depends on the pain level when I get back riding, which is what I am aiming for.'
Despite the severity of her injuries, Logan maintains a philosophical perspective about the incident, distinguishing it from her previous traumatic experience. 'I wasn't scared this time,' she reflected. 'While it hurt more than anything the horse was an innocent animal. He didn't go out intentionally to hurt me. There are different feelings to when I was assaulted.'
The champion jockey expressed gratitude for her support network during this challenging period, particularly acknowledging her husband's unwavering assistance throughout her recovery journey.
