Jason Taylor returns to racing after suffering horrific injuries in barrier incident

Miracle man Jason Taylor will return to race riding at the Gold Coast on Saturday after a horror incident in the barriers had him fighting for life earlier in the year.

The popular jockey suffered nine broken ribs and two punctured lungs in February when the horse he was riding stood in the air and flipped on top of him on the ground and then stepped on his head, knocking him unconscious.

After months of gruelling rehab, Taylor says he is ready for a staged return to racing which will kick off with a single ride for Chris Waller at the Gold Coast aboard three-year-old filly Merimee.

The Group 1-winning hoops says rehab from this injury has been like nothing he has suffered before, having to train himself to breathe properly again upon his return to the saddle.

“I have done a power of work,” he said. “I have been back at the track for around two months and probably in the last month I have amped up the amount of trackwork I ride.

“I have been getting a lot of swimming in, a lot of gym training. I have really put the work in, my fitness is there.

“It will take race days to get the race day fitness but I am feeling really good coming back into it.

Jason Taylor being tended to in hospital by his daughter Jess. Picture: supplied.Source:Supplied

“My previous injuries I have had dislocated shoulders and shoulder surgeries, broken bones, torn ligaments but this is a completely different rehab program – it actually shook me up a bit.

“I have been trying to get back and get my breathing back to normal, there has been plenty of breathing exercises.”

Despite the severity of his injuries, Taylor – who turns 50 next year – said retirement never crossed his mind and the support of his family helped his return.

Sitting on the couch watching horses he used to ride go on to win quickly wore thin on Taylor but a recent reality check has him sporting a new focus.

“I have been sitting on the couch and all these horses I was riding before the accident who were on the verge of hitting their straps came out and started winning,” he said.

“I watched them sail home and keep winning so there were some frustrating moments on the couch but I took a deep breath and took a step back.

“When you put it in perspective it is OK. I ran into one of the ambulance drivers last week and he was shocked to see me out and about. When it happens to you and I was unconscious for most of it, you don’t really realise how horrific it was for those people.”

With no solid plans past Saturday, Taylor is hoping to slowly stage his return to racing with more rides at more meetings.

Originally published asTaylor returns after horrific injuries

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