Forums
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
sparrow
26 May 15 08:55
Joined:
Date Joined: 20 Jul 02
| Topic/replies: 57,982 | Blogger: sparrow's blog
Former jockey Suzzanne France rides again for Injured Jockey Fund

    07:18, 23 May 2015
    By Martin Shaw

Suzzanne helps raises awareness for Jack Berry House in Malton


A former jockey will ride in her first race since she was badly hurt in a horror fall eight years ago.

Suzzanne France, a former student at Holmfirth High School, will take part in a charity race at Kelso on Sunday (May 24).

Now a racehorse trainer in Malton, Suzzanne was left in a coma for three days after her mount Uace Mac clipped heels with another horse and was catapulted head first into the turf.

The horse cartwheeled in the air and landed on top of her, leaving her with head and other injuries.

The fall happened at Redcar racecourse in May 2007.

Suzzanne, 26 at the time, was in hospital for five weeks and was left with impaired vision, which ended her riding career.

But this weekend she will ride in a charity race to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund and Borders MS and help support the new Jack Berry House, a specialist jockey rehabilitation centre being built in Malton and named after the former trainer.

Suzzanne, who worked in the school holidays for Stephen Whitaker, brother of top Huddersfield showjumpers John and Michael, gaining experience of the top show jumping world, said she remembered little of the fall.

She added: “After the accident my parents have told me that I was in a coma for three days and then spent several days in intensive care in the Middlesbrough James Cook Hospital

“I was later moved to Malton hospital for a further four weeks. The facilities available at the local hospital were very limited for my specific injuries.

“I really wish that Jack Berry House had been around at the time. With our support it will be there to provide for injured jockeys in the future.”

Suzzanne told how friends and family supported her fight back to health and said: “When I initially returned home even basic tasks such as using a knife and fork and making a cup of tea were a challenge.

“My head injury meant that I had to re-adjust to my impaired vision. However, I was determined to get back to work and got back on my own horse, Aggi Mac, within six months.”

Suzzanne now trains four horses at the aptly-named Newstart Yard near Malton. Her first winner was Stamp Duty in 2012.
Pause Switch to Standard View Suzzanne France a story from my local...
Show More
Loading...
Report salmon spray May 26, 2015 10:12 AM BST
Good for her and good for Jack Berry for all the work he has done on this project.
Report Johnny_Mustang May 26, 2015 10:27 AM BST
Yes, great news and best of luck to her.
Report stewarts rise May 27, 2015 3:26 PM BST
Would be nice if Stamp Duty could win for her today, has it to do over 12fs though!
Report stewarts rise May 27, 2015 3:36 PM BST
3.65 IR, don't folk read form?
Post Your Reply
<CTRL+Enter> to submit
Please login to post a reply.

Wonder

Instance ID: 13539
www.betfair.com