Monday Buzz: Jockey’s story of courage gives Alex McKinnon hope — blog with Buzz all day
JOCKEY Allan Chau came back from a broken neck not once, but twice. His story gives hope to Alex McKinnon. BLOG WITH BUZZ ALL DAY MONDAY.
Opinion
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THIS is a story of remarkable courage that possibly gives hope to Alex McKinnon.
The battling bush jockey who has broken his neck not once, but twice — and made a comeback to race riding on Saturday afternoon.
As the field thundered down the Rosehill straight chasing $4.5 million in Golden Slipper prizemoney, Allan Chau was being legged up for the first time in 14 months at Taree racetrack on the mid north coast — all for $170 a ride.
Race 3 Miss Cobia, unplaced. Race 5 Redzinga, unplaced. Race 7 Dane Stroller, unplaced. Race 8 Hoffenhorry, unplaced.
BENNETT DEFENDS KNIGHTS’ STAND ON MCLEAN
That he didn’t ride a winner or a placegetter was not important. The fact he was back, in itself, was a sporting miracle.
The 27-year-old Chau fractured his C3 and C5 three years ago in a fall at Port Macquarie. He returned to riding only to break his C2 in another fall at Grafton.
Knocked unconscious, he woke up in hospital and was told he was within millimetres of never walking again.
“I wore a halo for four months to keep my neck stable,” he said.
“I felt depressed and I wouldn’t leave the house.
“The only time I went out was to see the doctor for checkups. Lucky I had family and good friends.”
The specialists originally advised him not to ride again but he refused to give up.
Eventually he got a clearance for four rides per meeting.
“I was too young to walk away from it,” he said. “I love riding and there’s nothing else I can do.
“I got myself fit and I was ready last November. I was 100 per cent but they said they wanted me 110 per cent.”
Like they do with all race- fall victims, Racing NSW monitored Chau’s progress closely.
They offered to help find him a job. As a stable hand. An apprentice trainer. Anything to keep him in the game.
But for Chau, that wasn’t enough. Eventually he passed all the tests and convinced doctors to allow him to ride again.
“With my history of injuries, I’m taking a bigger risk than other jockeys,” he said. “But we’re dealing with 500kg animals and there’s a risk in every race for every jockey.”
Saturday’s comeback in front of just a few hundred punters in Taree was the result of his incredible determination. That strength of mind that stands some sportsmen out from the others.
“I followed their backsides around all day but got around safe which is the main thing,” he said.
“As we were in the barriers about to go, I had butterflies in my stomach. Then the gates open and we took off. It was all good.”
He slept well on Saturday night.
“It took a lot more out of me than I expected,” Chau said, “I’m tired and I’ve got soreness in muscles that haven’t been used for a while.
“I’ve been riding trackwork for six weeks but nothing makes up for actual races.
“A lot of my mates came to support me. The jockeys were great, too.
“There’s a fierce rivalry and you’ve got no friends out there but in the rooms we’re all really good mates.”
He hopes his story might provide just a little hope for stricken Knights player Alex McKinnon.
“With the medical expertise around these days, who knows,” he said.
“I was able to come back to riding and maybe Alex can climb out of bed one day and walk again.
“You never give up. I’m sure Alex won’t either.”
HIGHLIGHT
The Cronulla Sharks’ first win of the season, a thumping 37-6 victory over the Warriors. Amazing what they can achieve when a certain player gets off the drink for a week.
HIGHLIGHT II
The Sydney Swans’ demolition of Adelaide Crows and Buddy Franklin’s four goals.
LOWLIGHT
Yet another weekend of poor rugby league crowds. Only 12,000 at Allianz Stadium for Sonny Bill Williams’ comeback against the Bulldogs and only 7000 at Penrith to watch the in-form Panthers against the Raiders. At the same time GWS attracted 7106 against bottom placed Melbourne.
AGE WEARIES THEM
Rugby league legends Chook Raper and Changa Langlands catching the medicab from a function in the Bradman/Noble stand to a suite where they watched the game on the other side of the ground.
CAINE MOST ABLE
Footy commentator and Sportsbet odds spruiker Joel Caine may have created a broadcasting record on Saturday. He called the Sharks v Warriors match for Fox Sports then hopped into his car, drove to Moore Park, and called Souths v St George Illawarra at the SCG for 2GB.
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