Miracle man Beasley ready to return Sunday
BY KEITH MELROSE 8:49AM 24 MAR 2016
THE last race at Wolverhampton on Sunday is an unremarkable 7f handicap, but it looks set to mark the end of a truly extraordinary comeback by young rider Connor Beasley.
The 21-year-old suffered horrific injuries in a fall at Wolverhampton in July from the Bryan Smart-trainer Cumbrianna and spent the following three months in a custom-fitted body brace.
"I fractured my skull, had bleeding on my brain, lost half of my ear, did the middle of my neck, the middle of my back [T7 and T9 vertebra] and I smashed all my teeth," said Beasley.
"I've still got six plates in my skull, they're there to stay. Everything else has mended itself apart from my ear and my teeth."
Beasley's return from injury seems to have astounded everyone but the jockey himself, who had long since set himself a target of returning to riding by the start of the 2016 turf season.
"Every doctor I've seen couldn't believe how much progress I've made," he said. "It's a big credit to Jack Berry House. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be this far on. I've been going down there four times a week and I owe them a massive thanks."
Beasley's star was in the ascendancy before his injury, with 61 wins in 2014 and 29 recorded in the first half of 2015. However, with the return to race-riding so soon being a major achievement in itself, he is managing expectations to start off with.
New beginning
"I just want to get back into it, get all my contacts back if I can and just get the ball rolling again," he said. "I've got a new agent, Niall Hannity, so it's a new start and hopefully we can get kicking pretty soon.
"I don't think I've ever been as fit and strong as I am now. The strength and conditioning they've been putting me through at Jack Berry House has been excellent. They've all been brilliant."
One major bright point during Beasley's recovery was his marriage to Carla in December and their honeymoon in Mexico that followed.
"It was good to get a bit of sun on my back and I had plenty of time to think," he said.
"I did plenty of planning in my head while I was there, so when I came back I was raring to go."
Back in action
Beasley's first ride back will be for Julie Camacho in the 5.35 at Wolverhampton on Sunday, but he does not know yet what the actual mount will be.
"There are two in the race [Spirit Of Wedza and City Of Night], it depends on who they declare," he said.
"Then I'm down for Bradleysintown and Mecca's Missus for the boss Michael Dods, and Shearian for Tracy Waggot at Redcar on Monday."
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