Clear and present danger of being a jockey

Dubai: When Royston French left his apartment on Friday lunchtime he must have had a spring in his step, heartbeat quickening in anticipation of partnering with the imposing black horse Frankyfourfingers to try and win the prestigious Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile.

Did he leave a half full tea cup on the side and a load of washing in the machine to sort out later “when I get back”?

For all our intrepid jockeys setting off for work, getting back later is not a given. Every walk to the parade ring could be the last time they walk unaided, never making it back to see whose taken their shampoo, shower gel or aftershave, hidden in a towel or pair of shoes.

Though as the fallen rider is transported to the hospital the task of putting away clothes and personal belongings will be diligently completed by the closest colleagues. Arrangements to bring the car home sorted out, sombrely but matter of factly.

Yet this most unusual breed of human never speak of the dangers they face daily, beyond the sharing of information on the latest in technology for helmets and vests (body protectors), the only equipment they can use to try and protect themselves.

Luckily most falls cause little damage beyond bruised bodies and pride. But always there are those initial thoughts of, “am I alive — awake, can I move my legs and arms, where is the pain — is there pain”?

The wonderful realisation that the ultimate sacrifice has been avoided. Then quickly comes “how is my horse? When can I ride again?”

It’s no joke that jockeys are able to reduce healing time by up fifty per cent compared to “normal “ people.!

Sadly it doesn’t always pan out so well and in recent times we have seen the charming Freddy Tylicki lose the use of his lower body and the lovely George Baker receive awful head injuries after a racing fall on the snow track in St Moritz.

Both young men face life in drastically altered circumstances but with the help of The Injured Jockeys Fund which supports those UK riders.

In America. where the jockey attrition rate is markedly higher the PDJF (Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund) offers lifetime support. Both are charitable organisations relying on the generosity of others and the riders themselves.

We all wish Royston, who faces surgery after breaking his arm and leg in a fall from Frankyfourfingers at Jebel Ali Racecourse in Friday. a speedy recovery and an expedient return to the racetrack.

In the US at Fairgrounds, New Orleans we must send healing prayers to glamorous jockey Chantal Sutherland who received collarbone and knee injuries this week, ironically deputising for my daughter Sophie who had gone to ride at another meeting.

Her disappointment at finishing third was soon forgotten when informed of her friends accident on a horse she would have been riding.

Sadly, Frankyfourfingers failed to recover after the fall and was later euthanized.

— Jacquie Doyle is a former racehorse trainer and the mother of jockeys James and Sophine Doyle.