Darren Edwards: I had a B&B stay on the NHS *H&H VIP*

Opinion

Not many days go by in the racing world where “luck” is not on the tip of somebody’s tongue. Whether it is the media referring to a lucky winner, a punter referring to a lucky number or an owner referring to a lucky hat, most people buy into the concept.

Jockeys are no different and I would name a handful of courses where I have been lucky as a rider and love going. I had a successful campaign last season which was spearheaded by Chosen Lucky.

However, my start to this season has not been so lucky when, at the recent Barbury Castle meeting, my day ended with a 48-hour bed and breakfast stay in Swindon Hospital courtesy of the NHS.

Not the usual high-speed tumble that is commonly associated with jump-racing, it was in fact a pre-race incident where the mare I was riding planted en route to post, promptly reared and came over backwards onto me.

Unfortunately, she landed directly on my chest and I knew immediately that the prognosis was not great — later transpiring to be half a dozen broken ribs and a punctured lung. Aside from the injury itself, what is equally frustrating is that the mare epitomises placidity at home and there was no justification for her actions. It is at this point one has to remember that the horses we all love have their own minds, and trying to understand them is part of the challenge we enjoy.

Now well on the road to recovery, I hope to be back in action over the festive period in readiness for the season getting into full swing in the New Year.

Ref Horse & Hound; 14 December 2017