Amanda Turnbull seriously injured in trackwork

Champion harness racing reinswoman Amanda Turnbull, of The Lagoon, near Bathurst, was seriously injured while jogging a horse earlier this week.

The 34-year-old, who is the most successful female driver in New South Wales, has been based near Tweed Heads for the past 10 days while campaigning a small team in Queensland.

It’s believed the horse took fright early Tuesday morning (Nov 19) and bolted, with Turnbull being thrown heavily onto the ground.

Turnbull was rushed by ambulance to the Gold Coast University Hospital at Southport where she has undergone surgery.

Her father Steve said yesterday the main concern was Amanda’s right hand which has a number of tendons that were severed in the accident.

“She was in theatre on Wednesday and had two operations and they think at least another two will be needed.  A bone specialist and a skin graft surgeon are visiting her on Monday,” Steve said.

“Her other injuries are four broken ribs, multiple fractured vertebrae and disc damage. Thankfully my wife Jenny was staying up there with her at the time. I’m flying up tomorrow (Friday) along with Isobel (Ross) who will drive Amanda’s three runners at Albion Park on Saturday night.”

Turnbull has Stay Foolish in the $125,000 Ladbrokes Sunshine Stars Yearling Classic Final for 2yo colts and geldings; Racing Time in the Ladbrokes Own Spring Band 5 Pace; and Conegal Luther in the Stu Valentine for Bloodstock Insurance Qualifying Pace.

Amanda has driven 80 winners for the 2024 season, and trained her 50^th winner at Albion Park on Monday (Nov 18).

“She has been enjoying a pretty good season, she’s been going really well since she went out on her own,” Steve said.

Records show that Amanda has driven 2517 career winners, including 14 Gr 1s, for stakemoney of more than $20M. She drove her maiden winner at Orange 18 years ago on a horse named Wollomi – that being March 11, 2006.

Amanda has trained 1081 winners, which include seven G1’s, for stakemoney of more than $9.1M.

Her older brother Nathan is heavily involved in the sport, along with other siblings Josh and Mitch. Nathan’s 17-year-old son Jett (200 wins), who lives and breathes harness racing, is a regular in the winner’s circle. Amanda’s legendary grandfather Tony “AD” Turnbull, who died in 2021, retired with 1380 winners.

The Turnbull name which first arrived in the Bathurst region over 150 years ago, has been synonymous with many, many champions over the past 50 years.

Harnesslink wishes Amanda well in her recovery.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink