‘I made it out alive’: Female jockey’s heartbreaking update nearly two years after falling from her horse as she admits ‘my eyesight will not come back’

Leah Kilner retired from horse racing almost two years after the horrendous fall that nearly killed her.

The 26-year-old was thrown from her filly, Stella Turn, as the field galloped along the homestretch in the third race of the day at Grafton, New South Wales, in July 2022.

She was catapulted onto the grass and trampled by the horses as Stella Turn stumbled in the home stretch.

During his recovery last year, Kilner admitted there were times when he wished he hadn’t survived and that he still couldn’t remember the incident.

But in an Instagram post on Thursday, Kilner was in a much more positive mood and expressed gratitude for the career he enjoyed before the accident as he publicly announced his retirement.

‘The end of an era…’ he began.

I may not have finished it on my terms, but I came out alive.

‘After 21 months, countless appointments with specialists, ongoing rehabilitation, tests and opinions. It’s time to hang up my boots…no matter the time and patience, my sight will not return, my strength and feeling on the left side will not return to 100% and, frankly, if I hit my head again I will not get out . of the hospital.

“I guess I knew this was going to happen and I never wanted to accept it, but seeing my mounts walk out the door made it really hit hard and settle… the career I loved is officially over.

“There have certainly been ups and downs, but I have loved every moment and wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Kilner was considered one of the country’s most promising jockeys, riding more than 200 winners during her short career.

He narrowly missed the all-time record of 54 wins in the 2021-22 racing season after crossing the finish line in first place 46 times.