JOCKEY STEPS UP TO NEW RACING CHALLENGE
Fighting Toowoomba jockey stepping up for next racing challenge
RACING: She has fought her way through the notorious lows of racing, but despite finishing her apprenticeship next week on a positive note, who could forgive Ruby Ride for thinking what might have been.
Ride ends her “marathon” apprenticeship next Thursday before moving onto her next stage as a senior jockey based in her home town Toowoomba.
To say Ride has experienced career ups and downs doesn’t begin to tell her story.
Her 117 winners were interspersed with a horrid run of injuries which saw more than two years added to her apprenticeship as compensation for time lost through injury recuperation and rehabilitation.
Her lowest point came in 2015 when a pre-race incident at Ipswich left her with lifethreatening internal injuries and a shattered pelvis.
The injury all but ended her career and took 18 months of pain-staking recovery time.
But three years later Ride is back on top her game, ready to end her apprenticeship on her terms and determined to continue making up for “lost time”.
“I couldn’t catch a break with injuries. It was very frustrating,” Ride said this week of her apprenticeship.
“There were lots of hurdles — up and downs, but the hardest part was trying to get back to where you were after each injury break.
“Having to start from scratch every time was probably the most difficult part.”
Ride scored her first career win aboard Galloping Rhymes at Kumbia for trainer Ken Dowling in November 2010.
Her highlights included two winning city doubles while Stormy Grey provided her two satisfying track moments.
“Stormy Grey gave me my first win back from both my major shoulder and pelvis injuries,” Ride said.
“He was a good horse to me and to win on him for Jimmy (Hanna) both times was a bit special.
“Jimmy’s been very good to me.
“Winning two doubles in town is also a good feeling. “It’s hard enough to get one.” With the aid of her longtime manager Jim Barnes, Ride will now throw her hat into the Clifford Park riding pool.
“I’m glad to be finishing my apprenticeship,” Ride said.
“I enjoy riding and not much is going to change for me.
“I wasn’t getting a lot of rides in town and I lost my provincial claim here ages ago so it’s not going to make a lot of difference.
“I’ll just stay based in Toowoomba and focus on trying to ride at Clifford Park more often.
“There are no problems with my injuries and my fitness is good.
“My weight is never a problem for me and I’m ready for the next step.
“It’s definitely been a long road for me, but I’ll just keep taking it as it comes.”