On Monday, Newcombe was still feeling the effects of the concussion she suffered when she fell from the Barry Molloy-trained Royal Society after winning at Nyngan on Saturday.

The fall shocked racegoers on course, and anyone that has seen the series of graphic images captured by photographer Simon Thompson would have been equally as disturbed.

Thankfully, after reading a story about the fall in Monday’s Daily Liberal, Newcombe has maintained her sense of humour.

“I’m just lucky I was on the back page and not in the death notices,” she said.

“I’ve had a few people tell me I was lucky to survive it, or at the least not have a broken neck.

“I still feel pretty crook and I can’t lift my head off the pillow without feeling sick but when you think of what could have happened I’m pretty lucky.

“I don’t really remember anything. I don’t remember getting legged aboard ‘George’ (Royal Society) or winning the race. I just remember the first thing I asked the ambulance officers was whether the Dragons had beaten the Roosters.

“I’ve got dirt everywhere, in my hair and in my ears, so I’ll have to take half the Nyngan track back to Rodney Robb once I’m feeling better.”

Doctors have told Newcombe she is not allowed to hop on a horse for at least three weeks and she will need to undertake some tests before she is allowed to ride in races again.

Steward Sam Fitzgerald, who was officiating at Nyngan, indicated on Sunday that the incident occurred when Royal Society’s front legs struck each other as the horse prepared to take the turn out of the home straight.

The horse then knuckled and fell, but luckily didn’t fall directly on Newcombe.

She was taken to Nyngan Hospital and then transferred to Dubbo Hospital, where she was kept overnight before being allowed to go home on Sunday afternoon, where her husband Jesse has been by her side.

The fall has capped a tumultuous 12 months for the 25-year-old, who has experienced some great highs and lows, both personally and professionally.

In October she scored her biggest win in the saddle when she rode Atomic Blaze to victory in the Coonamble Cup, a day after winning a race on her home track at Forbes.

But in November tragedy struck when her mother passed away days prior to her wedding, and three days after she was involved in an incident where she broke her foot and was out of the saddle for an extended period.

“You go through these times when things go your way, and other times they don’t,” she said.

“Last year was my best year. I rode the winner of the Coonamble Cup and the Cobar Cup, and I rode a winner at Forbes as well which was a big thrill.

“Then mum got ill and passed away. We buried her three days before the wedding and then three days after I broke my foot. Now this has happened. I’ve been getting the talk from Jesse about no more riding but I’m keen to get back into it when I’m ready.

“This industry really toughens you up and I’ve had heaps of phone calls and messages from people asking how I am. I just want to thank everyone for their concern, it’s nice to know people care.”