A coroner has recommended more stringent reporting standards for racehorses returning from injury after the death of a French apprentice jockey in the New South Wales Central West more than four years ago. 

Marina Morel died during track work at Gulgong Racecourse on February 8, 2022.

The 30-year-old was riding Lina's Choice when the mare suffered a catastrophic leg injury while galloping past the winning post.

Morel was thrown to the ground before Lina's Choice rolled on top of her, causing blunt-force injuries to her head, neck and chest.

Morel was flown to Westmead Hospital in Sydney, where she died four days later.

Lina's Choice was euthanased at the racecourse.

An inquest into Morel's death examined whether a previous injury suffered by Lina's Choice contributed to the fall, and whether the jockey's death could have been prevented.

Horse appropriately managed, coroner finds

Morel came to Australia from France in 2014 to pursue her ambition of becoming a professional jockey and was working for Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson at BKB Racing at the time of the incident.

Lina's Choice suffered a ligament injury to her right front leg in March 2021.

Veterinarian Jack Holman recommended Lina's Choice rest for nine to 12 months but the mare returned to work after six months and 22 days.

Despite the earlier return, Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee found the rest period was consistent with academic literature for similar injuries and that Thompson appropriately managed the mare's return to work.

"Mr Thompson followed his usual practice for the management of horses returning to work from injury for Lina's Choice, which was appropriate," he said.

Judge Lee also found there were no signs of lameness during the mare's recovery and no evidence that the way she returned to training or racing predisposed her to stress fractures.

He said evidence suggested the mare was also performing "well above expectations" in the lead-up to the fatal fall.

After returning to work, Lina's Choice participated in a barrier trial and two races at Wellington and Dubbo before Ms Morel's death.

Six days before the fatal incident, equine chiropractor Gary Christou detected some chest stiffness, and recommended Lina's Choice be monitored.

Judge Lee found that response was appropriate and that the stiffness alone did not indicate a veterinary assessment was required.

The coroner found Lina's Choice had nevertheless developed stress fractures in her left humerus, which resulted in the catastrophic fracture during track work.

"There is no evidence that the previous injury was associated with the stress fractures," Judge Lee said.

Calls for stronger safeguards

Judge Lee made several recommendations aimed at strengthening Racing NSW's oversight of horses returning from injury or extended breaks from training and racing.

He recommended Racing NSW develop and publish clearer guidance about what constituted a "major orthopaedic injury" that took into account the nature and extent of an injury, the treatment required and how long a horse was unable or not recommended to train or race.

Judge Lee also called for broader reporting requirements for trainers, including matters that could affect a horse's performance even where it appeared to have recovered before being nominated for a race.

Racing NSW requires horses that have not raced or trialled for 150 days or more to undergo an official veterinary examination and barrier trial before returning to racing.

Judge Lee called for that requirement to be formalised in a published policy and for Racing NSW to explore whether the 150-day threshold could be reduced, potentially to 60 days.

Morel's family attended the hearing remotely from France and had the assistance of an interpreter. Her mother wiped tears from her eyes at the conclusion of the hearing.