Misfortunes plague S.African jockeys in OZ.........:(

Excerpts from Tab news site regarding jockeys connected to the A.K.Roberts/ Charlie Barends families and their mishaps.

JEFF LLOYD

" I didn't realize I'd had a stroke", he said." I had a fall the day before and apparently tore an artery in the brain...I stopped riding that day, not because of that, I didn't know, but because I'd broken a finger. I went home and I had headaches that night but still went to the races the next day. Then I just didn't feel right as I was about to ride one and they took me off for an MRI which revealed the stroke."

"It wasn't too severe but the recovery was slow. I had a hearing problem and was feeling dizzy all the time. but eventually I started walking slowly and started to do some swimming and gradually improved but I didn't think I'd ride again, certainly not for the 1st eight months.My motivation was just to try and get fit and healthy again for whatever else I might do.

" The neuro-surgeon said a fifth of my brain was dead and I might find things wouldn't be quite right but everything's been fine.That was 15 months ago and I've been back for 6 weeks now. I didn't want to come back unless I felt I could ride as well as previously. It was a challenge I put on myself to get back riding."


GLYNN SCHOFIELD


Glyn is making a slow recovery from the serious facial injuries he suffered when he was smashed in the face in a track work accident at the Warwick Farm track on 19 May.Schofield suffered bone fractures but also did not require surgery.

He is awaiting further scans which will better indicate when he may return to riding.Schofield was injured when a horse he was taking onto the track bucked and dislodged him and he was knocked unconscious when smashed in the face as the animal reared.

" The doctors say I could be out for 8 weeks, but I'm hoping I could be out quicker than that," said Schofield.


CHAD SCHOFIELD


Rising star jockey Chad Schofield is now expected to be out for 3 months as he recovers from neck fractures sustained in his fall at Cranbourne, the day after he won the Queensland Derby on Sonntag. That was his 4th GR1 of the season following victories in the Cox Plate, Newmarket handicap and Champagne Stakes.

Surgeons have advised the young jockey and his family that he needs at least 3 months out of the saddle in order for his injuries to heal properly. He was earlier told that he will not need surgery to stabilize his neck but would be required to wear a neck brace. Scans revealed fractures in the young jockey's C3 vertebrae but doctors believe the fractures may have been caused by an earlier fall and aggravated by the most recent fall at Cranbourne.

In April of this year Glyn Schofield lost his son-in-law, jockey Nathan Berry who had married Whitney, Glyn's daughter.Tragically jockey Nathan Berry succumbed to a rare epileptic illness.

ENDS. .........................................................................

P.S. Is the family becoming dogged by bad luck, just like that of the Kennedys?:S

Hope and pray this is the end of it.

Chad Schofield's injury was as a result of a 3 horse pile-up at Cranbourne last Sunday which resulted in jockeys Steven Arnold, Chad Schofield and Ben Thompson being taken to hospital.

The $ 4 favorite Donarchie ridden by Thompson fell at the 800mt mark with Maid of Ice ridden by Schofield also falling, while Arnold was dislodged from his mount Exclusive Choice.

Attending medical officers confirmed Arnold and Thompson had momentarily lost consciousness ,while Schofield was placed in a neck brace.

Whilst the other 2 jockeys were found to be suffering the effects of concussion, Schofield had fractures of the neck and his mount Maid of Ice was sadly euthanized as a result of injuries sustained in the fall.