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Family of late jockey’s legal fight

Legal battle: Echuca jockey Mikaela Claridge was killed in a fall while working a horse at the Cranbourne Turf Club in August 2019. Photo by Contributed

The family of an Echuca jockey killed in 2019 has launched a legal fight against the Cranbourne Turf Club.

Mikaela Claridge, 22, was riding a section of the course known as the sand trails at Cranbourne when her horse was startled in the early hours of August 30 that year.

The Herald Sun reports the Claridge family and fellow jockey Chelsea Hall have launched legal action in the County Court.

The apprentice hoop was riding with a training partner when the two horses were spooked and both riders fell on to the unlit track.

Ms Claridge suffered critical head injuries and died at the scene, while the other rider was able to get up and walk away.

A WorkSafe investigation was launched into the incident.

The Cranbourne Turf Club was charged with six breaches of the workplace safety act, including failing to ensure a safe workplace.

Saloon Park, the registered business name of Ken Keys Racing, was charged with one count of failing to provide a system of work.

During her career as a jockey, Ms Claridge rode 29 winners from 392 rides, six of which came on her home track of Echuca.