Jockey Blake Spriggs puts family first with retirement call after horror fall

3 months ago 12

By Craig Kerry

July 4, 2025 — 5.00pm

Blake Spriggs is unsure if he can overcome the mental scars to have another career in racing, after he was forced to retire as a jockey at age 33 because of injuries from a fall which nearly claimed his life.

Spriggs, a group 1 winner on Sir John Hawkwood in the 2016 Metropolitan, announced on Friday that he would not return to riding after being told by a neurologist that another concussion would likely kill him.

The Newcastle-raised hoop, a son of long-time country jockey Dale Spriggs, was lucky to survive a horror fall at Moruya on January 27 in which he suffered bleeding on the brain, collapsed lungs, fractures in almost every rib, a haemorrhaged liver, kidney damage and a broken arm and collarbone. After spending four weeks in hospital, Spriggs has continued his recovery at home in Cronulla with his partner, KC Osborne, and their son, Brooklyn.

He had mixed emotions about the end of his 17-year career, which featured 654 winners, but was relieved to make the announcement and grateful to be alive.

“I knew even before I saw the neurologist, due to my lungs which haven’t fully taken shape yet, I knew my body’s limitations after the fall weren’t going to be the same, so I was umming and ahhing,” Sprigg said.

“I was thinking also, how could I put my family in that position again? That was a major part of thinking – do I want to go back? Probably not. Once the neurologist said that, it wasn’t my decision.

‘If you nearly die somewhere, people tend to be hesitant to go back there.’

Blake Spriggs

“It’s definitely relief ... and a little bit emotional, just seeing everyone responding in comments, particularly owners thanking me for wins on their horses and things like. It’s been pretty special.

“It’s been a lot of mixed emotions because it’s obviously not the way any sportsperson wants to go out, but when the doctor makes that call and says a concussion would likely kill me, in a sport where concussions are highly likely, it made it an easy decision.”

Given his continued recovery from his brain injury, Spriggs was unsure of his next career move and was focused on spending time with his family.

As for a career in racing, he said: “I think it’s the right thing to use the skills I’ve learned, but I also haven’t been back to the races really, so I don’t know how it will be mentally to be there all day.

“I’ll have to try and get back there and see if it gives me any bad anxiety. I’ve watched races, but I don’t know how it would be if I was there and there was a fall. If you nearly die somewhere, people tend to be hesitant to go back there.

“A few of my mates have asked me what’s next and the hard thing for me is that the neurologist has said my healing time is unknown really, anywhere from a year to three years is what they expect for bleeds on the brain.”