Rising star jockey Joe Leavy has spoken of his gratitude for survival following a terrifying car crash that left him hospitalised and threatened his burgeoning career.
A Brush With Death on Berkshire Roads
The 20-year-old, who was crowned the champion apprentice of Flat racing in 2025, was involved in a serious single-vehicle collision in the early hours of November 30. The incident occurred on Newbury Road in Eastbury, near Hungerford, Berkshire, with Thames Valley Police attending the scene at approximately 1.26am.
Leavy had been travelling with fellow jockey Will Carver and a female passenger just hours after riding a winner at Wolverhampton. The situation was so severe that Leavy was airlifted to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital and required treatment in intensive care.
"I don't know what happened," Leavy admitted. "The first thing I remember is waking up in hospital and my mum was by my side. I feel very lucky to be alive, it could have been so much worse."
The Road to Recovery at Oaksey House
The crash left Leavy with significant injuries, including a broken jaw that needed an operation to have two plates inserted. This procedure restricted him to a mostly liquid diet for a month. "I physically couldn't move my jaw so it was awkward to eat," he explained. He also sustained a collarbone injury and whiplash.
His determined recovery took place at the renowned jockeys' rehabilitation centre, Oaksey House in Lambourn. Leavy committed to spending five days a week there, undergoing rigorous physiotherapy and exercise regimes to rebuild his strength. "Thankfully it didn't stop me going to the gym and I was able to build my fitness back up," he said. "It was about six weeks before I got back on a horse."
Eager Return to the Saddle at Kempton
Leavy's hard work culminates in a competitive return to race-riding this week. He is scheduled to take four rides at Kempton Park on Wednesday, marking a triumphant comeback. His mounts include Celestique for trainer Richard Hannon, who provided crucial support during his lay-off, and Joolianoss for James Evans.
Remarkably, Evans also trains Landlordtothestars, the horse Leavy won on at Wolverhampton merely six hours before the life-altering accident.
"I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me," Leavy stated, paying tribute to his parents Laura and Barry, his agent Phil Shea, and the staff at Oaksey House. With 41 winners in his championship year and a personal best of 63 victories, his sights are now set on a stakes-level breakthrough in 2026.
Reflecting on his forced break, the young jockey found a silver lining: "Racing can be very full on. I'd had two very busy years without a break but having to take time off has made me eager to get back to it."
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police confirmed that their investigation into the circumstances of the collision is ongoing.
