By MIKE DILLON
The limbs might be useless, but the spirit refuses to be dimmed.
Ken Browne, who is in Middlemore Hospital paralysed, has packed a sad.
But don't think any less of him for throwing his toys out of the cot.
It's because the 67-year-old knows the Great Northern jumps carnival at Ellerslie is on this weekend.
Browne, who broke his neck in a fall from a racehorse in Cambridge last month, saddened his wife on Thursday when, for the first time in his life, he refused to show any interest in jumping races. That was despite his having four runners in today's $50,000 TV Guide Hurdles.
"It's because he wants to be there," an upset Ann Browne said yesterday.
"When asked if he was interested in watching the races on television, he indicated 'no'."
Browne has had an operation on his neck to allow him to be placed in a sitting position, and has a television set by his bed.
"If he doesn't want to watch the races he can close his eyes," his wife said.
Her husband's attitude made her sad, but she understood.
"He's that sort of person - he wants to be out there.
"He feels useless. However, he can still play a part. We're all prepared to accept it [the injuries] and we have to convince him that he has too."
Browne can make basic communication with his wife, but has not been able to speak since his accident four weeks ago because of a special respirator which allows him to breathe.
"Kenny will be able to talk when a different respirator is fitted," she said. "They can't do that at the moment because of a chest infection.
"I'm sure he'll be a lot better when he can talk."
Ann Browne was joined for her afternoon visit to Middlemore yesterday by Craig Thornton, who, aboard Galaxy Lover, will ride against the Browne quartet in this afternoon's TV Guide Hurdles.
Ann Browne said she was no tipster and did not like rating one of the stable's horses above others, but would be surprised if the team did not take home some of the money.
The Auckland Racing Club has dedicated this year's carnival to Ken Browne and has named the live bamboo fence at the foot of the famous Ellerslie Hill, the Ken Browne Brush.
When the course was redesigned four years ago, Browne was instrumental in the fence being moved forward, within view of the grandstands.
Racing: Mental hurdle for Ken Browne
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