Racing: Injury forces change of tack

Badly injured jockey Mark Sweeney says he will never again criticise racing tipsters.

Sweeney will miss at least a year of race riding as a result of the horrific injuries he suffered when crushed against a rail at the Cambridge trials in April.

The injuries include eight main fractures to his legs.

More recently he has passed time by becoming a tipster on radio and on the TAB's Trackside television channel.

"Like a lot of people I used to scoff when someone made a mistake talking about racing on television.

"Now that I am on it myself I wonder what they are saying about me.

"The pressure is a lot different when you're in front of the camera."

Sweeney says he temporarily lost touch with the racing industry during the first pain-filled months of his rehabilitation and is glad now to be getting a handle on the race form again.

Three weeks ago he threw away his crutches, but is all too aware it may not be forever.

The fractures are slowly healing, but Sweeney has a problem with the nerves in one foot.

"I can feel my toes, but I can't control them.

"I'm undergoing tests at the moment which hopefully will reveal whether the problem is caused by muscle damage or nerve damage.

"It could be that the nerve is caught up in one of the fractures in the foot."

The possibility of a bone graft to one of the damaged legs is also hanging over the Te Awamutu-based jockey.

Yesterday morning Sweeney flew to Christchurch.

He took the opportunity to attend last night's black tie racing awards dinner in the city, but essentially his trip is to appear on the Trackside tipping session on television this morning for the Grand National Steeplechase meeting at Riccarton.

Jo Williams, wife of The Oaks Stud manager Rick Williams, is putting together a rugged physiotherapy regime for Sweeney, who has been swimming most days for the last month.

"It's going to be pretty gruelling apparently, but it means I'll be a lot fitter when I resume next year - I'll be fitter than some of the horses I'll be riding."

Sweeney says he has been lucky with pain.

"I don't take much at all to ward off pain now. I got quite sick when I came out of hospital after the second operation and Debbie [wife] called an ambulance and had me readmitted.

"I'd had two operations, been on morphine, was pumped full of antibiotics to ward off infection in the broken legs and I had taken a lot of Panadol.

"As well, I had delayed concussion and I think getting sick was a combination of all of that and I try to stay off medication now."

The Herald asked Sweeney to sort out some tips for punters for today's Foxbridge Plate raceday at Te Rapa.

"As long as punters don't take them too seriously," was his rider:

Race 1: Wednesday Night.

Race 2: Not My Fault.

Race 3: Deceit.

Race 4: Lord Spectrum.

Race 5: "I'm going really rough in this and tipping Miss Unicorn, who should be at long odds. It was a good run last start. I've ridden her before and I don't think she's the worst."

Race 6: Grani.

Race 7: Dicktator.

Race 8: "What a great field - you'd be pleased to be riding any one of them.

"I'm going for a bit of a safety net in tipping old Distinctly Secret. He always goes a good race when fresh."

Race 9: Cedar Manor.

Race 10: To Hell And Back.

Best bet? "I'd like to say To Hell And Back in the last, but I'll nominate Cedar Manor in Race 9.

"He's classy and should be improved for his last-start effort.