Jockey returns to racing weeks after he was placed in a coma
Jockey Henry Brooke has made a strong return to the racetrack just seven weeks after he was placed in a coma following a serious fall.
The 25-year-old rode the Martin Todhunter-trained Sophie Olivia (not pictured) to fourth place in the bumper at Catterick yesterday (Wednesday, 30 November), which was won by Getaway Whiskey and Harry Skelton.
This was the first time Henry had raced since sustaining multiple injuries in a fall in the novice handicap at Hexham on 8 October.
His mount, the Brian Ellison-trained Old Storm (not pictured), fell at the second fence and racing was delayed for two hours while Henry was treated on the track.
He sustained broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured shoulder blade and was placed in an induced coma.
Sam Twiston-Davies, who has been on the sidelines since bruising his spleen and kidneys in a fall from One More Go at Chepstow on 9 October, also enjoyed a successful comeback from injury yesterday.
He finished second to Super Sam and Charlie Deutsch in the handicap hurdle at Ffos Las aboard Southport, who is trained by his father Nigel Twiston-Davies.
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Both Sam and Henry have had help from the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) — H&H’s 2016 charity of the year — in their returns from injury.
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Henry has been at Jack Berry House in Malton, while Sam has been using the help and facilities on offer at Oaksey House in Lambourn.
Both have further rides this week.
“When a jockey gets injured, they are always keen to get back in the saddle as soon as they can,” an IJF spokesman told H&H.
“Through the work we do at our two rehabilitation and fitness centres, Oaksey House and Jack Berry House, our aim is to help to get them back as mentally and physically strong, fit and ready as they possibly can be.”
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.