Leavy, the 2025 champion apprentice of Flat racing, was injured in the accident on November 30. The 20-year-old has been working on his fitness at Oaksey House as he prepares to take four rides at Kempton Park on Wednesday
A top jockey has opened up on his brush with death in a serious car accident ahead of his return to race-riding.
Joe Leavy was in intensive care after he was airlifted to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital from the scene of the crash near Hungerford, Berkshire on November 30.
British flat racing’s top apprentice had ridden a winner at Wolverhampton hours before the single vehicle collision which the emergency services attended at around 1.30am.
“I don’t know what happened,” said Leavy, 20, in the car with his weighing room colleague Will Carver and a female passenger who were taken to hospital and later released.
“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.”
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Leavy, back in action with four rides at Kempton Park on Wednesday, broke his jaw and underwent an operation to have two plates inserted in it, which meant his diet was mostly restricted to liquids for a month.
The young sportsman also hurt his collarbone and he said: “I physically couldn’t move my jaw so it was awkward to eat. I also had whiplash from the accident.
“Thankfully it didn’t stop me going to the gym and I was able to build my fitness back up. It was about six weeks before I got back on a horse.”
Leavy spent five days a week at the jockeys’ rehab centre Oaksey House in Lambourn where he exercised and had physiotherapy.
The partner of 41 winners in the 2025 championship has been riding out for Richard Hannon, provider of his comeback mount Celestique in a seven furlong maiden event.
Leavy will also team up with Joolianoss for James Evans, the handler of Landlordtothestars, who Leavy won on at Wolverhampton around six hours before the accident.
“I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me,” said the rider, aiming to beat his yearly best of 63 winners in 2026 and make a breakthrough at stakes level.
“My mum Laura, dad Barry, agent Phil (Shea), the trainers and staff at Oaksey House have been fantastic.
“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.”
Officers from Thames Valley Police were called to the collision on Newbury Road in Eastbury, Hungerford at 1.26am on November 30.
A spokesperson said: “Our investigation into the circumstances of this collision is ongoing.”
