Horse Racing Scandal: Parents of Young Jockey Tom Prebble Reveal He Is Facing Serious Injuries After Major Spinal Surgery Following a Fall in a Race Involving Foul Play on Prebble’s Horse, Prompting Fans to Criticise BHA’s Incomprehensible Silence

In the high-stakes world of horse racing, where fortunes are made and lost in the blink of an eye, tragedy struck on September 9, 2025, at Warrnambool Racecourse in Victoria, Australia. Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble, a 23-year-old rising star from one of the sport’s most illustrious families, suffered a catastrophic fall during the final race of the day. What began as a routine handicap event quickly spiraled into a scandal that has ignited fierce debate about foul play, safety protocols, and the accountability of racing authorities. Now, as Prebble battles for his mobility in a Melbourne hospital, his parents have delivered a heartbreaking update that underscores the human cost of the incident, while fans worldwide lambast the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) for its stonewalling silence.

Tom Prebble was astride Pulveriser, a 51-1 longshot trained by Andrew Bobbin, in the Midfield Group BM62 Handicap over 2000 meters. The field of 11 horses was thundering toward the finish when disaster unfolded approximately 700 meters from the post. Eyewitnesses and race replays suggest Pulveriser clipped the heels of the horse ahead, causing it to stumble violently and catapult Prebble onto the unforgiving turf. The young rider lay motionless as paramedics rushed to his side, and he was swiftly airlifted by Ambulance Victoria’s helicopter to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. Initial reports described the fall as “horrific,” but whispers among punters and trainers soon pointed to something more sinister: allegations of deliberate interference that bordered on foul play.

Racing Victoria stewards launched an immediate investigation, poring over footage that captured what appeared to be erratic riding from the jockey on the preceding horse. Sources close to the inquiry, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the incident bore hallmarks of “stopping”—a term for intentionally hampering a competitor’s progress, often linked to insider betting syndicates. Pulveriser had been closing strongly in second-last position, defying its odds and showing signs of a potential upset. “It wasn’t just a clip; the horse in front seemed to swerve at the wrong moment,” one trackside observer told reporters. “Tom had no chance to react.” This suspicion has fueled a broader outcry, drawing parallels to past race-fixing scandals that have plagued the sport, from the 2023 Danny Brock ban in the UK to recent probes into all-weather manipulations.

The Prebble family name carries the weight of racing royalty. Tom’s father, Brett Prebble, is a Melbourne Cup winner (2012 aboard Green Moon), a two-time Cox Plate victor, and a Hong Kong Hall of Famer with over 1,200 career triumphs. His mother, Maree Payne, was a champion jockey in her own right, while his aunt, Michelle Payne, etched her name in history as the first female winner of the Melbourne Cup in 2015. Tom, apprenticed to the Payne siblings’ training stable, had been on a meteoric trajectory. Just months earlier, in July 2025, he clinched the Victorian Apprentice Rising Star Series, outpacing rivals like Rose Hammond. In June, he notched a rare treble at Flemington, two of them on Payne-trained horses. “He was the future,” said fellow jockey Mark Zahra in a heartfelt tribute. “A kid with grit and talent in spades.”

But that future now hangs in precarious balance. On September 12, Brett and Maree issued their first public statement through Racing Victoria, revealing that Tom had undergone “major surgery” to stabilize a fractured T5 vertebra in his spine. “Tom is stable but faces a very long recovery period,” they wrote, expressing gratitude to the medical teams and requesting privacy. “His career as a jockey is secondary. Quality of life moving forward is what we are all having our fingers crossed for.” The words struck a chord in a sport often criticized for prioritizing spectacle over safety.

By September 16, Tom himself broke his silence with a raw, first-person update from the Austin Hospital’s spinal ward, where he had been transferred for specialized care. “At the moment, I’ve got nothing happening from the bottom of my rib cage down through my body—currently no feeling or movement,” he disclosed. The spinal cord damage, compounded by a neck fracture requiring a three-month brace, rib breaks, minor lung complications, and dental injuries, paints a grim picture. “It’s a waiting game over the coming weeks and months,” Tom continued, emphasizing the spectrum of possible outcomes. “The message is very clear: remain fully optimistic but realistic.” His tone, laced with resilience, echoed the unyielding spirit of his lineage, yet the vulnerability was palpable. “I’m blessed to have two of the best parents and sister anyone could wish for,” he added, thanking the outpouring of support from the racing community.

As Tom’s fight intensifies, the scandal’s shadow lengthens. Stewards’ findings remain pending, but the incident has exposed vulnerabilities in race monitoring, particularly at regional tracks like Warrnambool. Fans, however, have reserved their sharpest ire for the BHA, the UK’s governing body, whose radio silence on the matter has been dubbed “incomprehensible.” Social media erupts with criticism: “BHA’s hiding again—how many falls before they act on foul play?” one punter tweeted, garnering thousands of likes. Another posted, “Prebble’s paralyzed, and BHA won’t even comment? This is the sport of kings, not cowards.” The authority’s history of reticence in investigations—exemplified by its terse “no comment” policy in the August 2025 race-fixing probe involving a jump jockey and a trainer—has only amplified the fury. Critics argue that the BHA’s opacity erodes trust, especially when cross-border incidents like this one draw international eyes. “If it’s foul play, say it,” demanded a Racing Post columnist. “Silence protects the wrong people.”

The BHA’s stance contrasts starkly with Racing Victoria’s transparency, which has included daily updates and welfare support via the Jockeys’ Association. Yet, as the investigation drags, questions mount: Was the swerve accidental, or orchestrated? Could enhanced GPS tracking or AI-assisted officiating prevent future tragedies? Tom’s case, intertwined with whispers of corruption, underscores a sport at a crossroads. For now, the Prebbles rally around their son, channeling determination into rehab. “He’s got the best bloodlines and support,” Maree said earlier. In a family forged in triumphs and now tempered by trial, Tom’s journey—scarred but unbroken—remains a testament to racing’s dual soul: its thrill and its toll.