‘I’m not dirty on racing’: Tom Prebble opens up on life-altering injury as community rallies around young jockey
Tom Prebble has opened up on the devastating spinal cord injury that has changed his life as multiple organisations chip in to help with his recovery.
The son of Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Brett Prebble suffered a fall at Warrnambool in early September and has since been confined to a wheelchair.
Prebble has already begun rehabilitation and revealed in an interview with Nine’s Eddie McGuire where things were at and what the next steps would be for him.
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“It was no fault of anyone’s. The horse just had a stumble and it was a wet track. I can’t blame anyone for it,” he said.
Tom Prebble speaks to Nine’s Eddie McGuire Getty
“He went head first and so did I and, unfortunately, from then on I couldn’t feel anything below chest level. From here down I can’t feel anything. I have got no sensation and it’s been two months now, so they have basically declared me as complete [paraplegic].
“I’ll hopefully move home to Mum’s house where it will be modified for me to be suitable to live in. From then on, hopefully [I’ll] just get my independence back, and if there’s any rehab that could get me a bit more sensation, I would love to do it.
“I would fly anywhere and do anything just to get half my body back.”
Watch the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Prebble was a more than promising rider with a bright future in the sport, but despite the circumstances surrounding his life-altering injury, he remains in love with racing.
“I’m not dirty on racing. I would love to still be a part of it and I’ve come today because there’s horses I love and trainers I love to cheer for,” he said.
“I would love to stay a part of the industry, that’s for sure, but I’m not home yet and I’m still taking everything day by day.”
Tom Prebble poses with his father Brett and Michelle Payne Getty
To assist with his recovery, three key stakeholders in the Melbourne Cup Carnival – Nine, TAB and Howden – have all chipped in to donate $10,000 each to Prebble.
QR codes will be available on the Nine broadcast throughout Cup week.
As well as having a famous father, Prebble is the nephew of Cup-winning jockey and trailblazer Michelle Payne, who won the great race 10 years ago.
