62-YEAR-OLD Mount Isa jockey Keith Ballard has broken his jaw in several places after the horse he was to ride headbutted his face.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The veteran jockey was in Winton for the race meeting on Saturday, April 22. His son and fellow jockey Dan said that the injury happened at the barriers.
Dan said the horse that Ballard was about to ride was walking into the barriers but came into contact with the back gate.
The horse reacted quickly and headbutted Ballard in the face.
The impact broke the sinus bone, left cheek and eye socket, Dan said.
Ballard eventually fell off the horse and therefore must have been “quite dazed” after the impact, said Dan.
The horse stood on Ballard’s arm after he landed on the ground.
Ballard was consulting with a surgeon in Brisbane on Wednesday to determine the type of medical options that he had and to learn how long it would take to recover before getting back onto the saddle.
Dan said injuries were a part of the racing industry and North West jockeys were quite fortunate not to have many injuries but eventually if a jockey raced enough times it would happen.
“It just goes with the territory,” Dan said.
“It’s a really safe place to ride.
“This one had nothing to do with another rider."
Ballard has raced for 47 years with his debut on August 30, 1969. In September 2009 he had reached his 1500th career win.
His most serious injury as a jockey before Saturday’s race was in June, 2008, at the McKinlay Races.
Ballard had broken his leg and was forced to spend time in a wheelchair.
When recalling that injury the following year he told North West Star reporter Matt Nicholls; “I never had any doubts about returning to the saddle.
“The main part was to make sure my leg had healed well enough first though.”
The North West Queensland’s racing industry had one less experienced jockey for the Gregory Races to be held on Saturday.
It was a possibility that jockeys may need to be brought in from other regions so that all the nominated horses could be ridden, said Dan. “The nominations are quite large for a couple of races,” he said.
But he was uncertain if this was an option that the Gregory Race Club or trainers were considering.
The Benchmark 50 Handicap had 13 horses accepted. However, three of these were emergency options. It is the first race of the day, scheduled for 1.15pm.
The QTIS Maiden Plate begins 40 minutes later and has seven acceptances aiming to claim their first career win.
Next up is the third BenchMark 45 Handicap had 10 horses nominated.
