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I received the news on Friday which I had never really considered. I was told I would never be able to race-ride again.
Being a jockey is all I’ve known for the last 10 years, so to be told your career has ended was shocking.
It was almost a year ago that I damaged my neck after hitting my head in a freak accident coming out of the stalls in a race at Brighton.
I had major seven-and-a-half hour surgery to replace three discs in my spinal cord and I knew it would be a long road back.
I guess deep down there was always a possibility that I would never be able to race-ride again, but I always pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind.
It’s a unique injury and there just isn’t the medical history to know exactly what processes to go through. I am still in a reasonable amount of pain and I have a persistent ache in my neck. Doctor Hill, who has been fantastic, told me that I if I had a fall in race, there is a chance I could be paralysed.
I am spending time with my family right now and will continue to help out John Ryan until the end of the season and then I’ll take a break, go on holiday, and think through what I want to do.
It’s all a bit raw at the moment to know what happens next but I’d like to stay in racing. There is a chance I might still be able to ride out again and hopefully there will be some opportunities. Next season I can hopefully start afresh and in the right frame of mind to really attack anything I put mind to.
I’ve enjoyed a wonderful 10 years as a jockey and have enjoyed many highs, including on horses such as Kikonga, Saigon and Rewarded. I’ve won Listed races and ridden in Group Ones, and achieved a lot which I should rightly be proud of.
I’ve spent most of my career with James Toller, four excellent years with Luca Cumani, and then rode for John Ryan towards the end of my career and I am helping him now. I’d like to thank so many people for giving me opportunities but those three trainers and also my agent Mark Furnass deserve special mention.
In the meantime I’ll still be keeping busy with media work and my weekly columns for GBI Racing.
Thank you all for your support as I look forward to the next chapter of my life now.
Being a jockey is all I’ve known for the last 10 years, so to be told your career has ended was shocking.
It was almost a year ago that I damaged my neck after hitting my head in a freak accident coming out of the stalls in a race at Brighton.
I had major seven-and-a-half hour surgery to replace three discs in my spinal cord and I knew it would be a long road back.
I guess deep down there was always a possibility that I would never be able to race-ride again, but I always pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind.
It’s a unique injury and there just isn’t the medical history to know exactly what processes to go through. I am still in a reasonable amount of pain and I have a persistent ache in my neck. Doctor Hill, who has been fantastic, told me that I if I had a fall in race, there is a chance I could be paralysed.
I am spending time with my family right now and will continue to help out John Ryan until the end of the season and then I’ll take a break, go on holiday, and think through what I want to do.
It’s all a bit raw at the moment to know what happens next but I’d like to stay in racing. There is a chance I might still be able to ride out again and hopefully there will be some opportunities. Next season I can hopefully start afresh and in the right frame of mind to really attack anything I put mind to.
I’ve enjoyed a wonderful 10 years as a jockey and have enjoyed many highs, including on horses such as Kikonga, Saigon and Rewarded. I’ve won Listed races and ridden in Group Ones, and achieved a lot which I should rightly be proud of.
I’ve spent most of my career with James Toller, four excellent years with Luca Cumani, and then rode for John Ryan towards the end of my career and I am helping him now. I’d like to thank so many people for giving me opportunities but those three trainers and also my agent Mark Furnass deserve special mention.
In the meantime I’ll still be keeping busy with media work and my weekly columns for GBI Racing.
Thank you all for your support as I look forward to the next chapter of my life now.
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Replies: 10
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COULD SHE EVER RACE RIDE? WONT BE MISSED
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southlodge - you really are a piece of work - get your head out of your **** ...
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very talented. shame
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CREPE4LLO REMIND ME AGAIN, HOW LONG DID SHE GET BARRED FOR?
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^ Did she not win her appeal?
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She will probably be Assistant Trainer to - the shortly to also be retired - K Fellon, next year.
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Sad when someone so young is forced to retire through injury
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didn't she do a lot of show jumping as well,gonna be a big loss for the girl,good luck
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She made a huge mistake when nobbing Fallon, her reputation went right down the gurgler, quite simply those of us who would have popped it's spinal discs turned our backs on her and those idiots who thought it was a jockey lost all respect too.
I don't see what the big deal is ? she was never a Cathy Gannon was she. |
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I feel sorry for the girl, to lose the job she loved doing and still be in pain a year after an operation must be very hard on her. Can only wish her well, hope her health improves
and that she can find a new career within racing. |