New career a pest, but Traecey loves it
IN a thunderous flurry of dirt and hoofs, which left him broken and unconscious beneath a flailing horse, Michael Traecey’s life changed.
Four neck fractures, a broken shoulder, cracked ribs and crushed internal organs prompted a drastic rethink of the former champion jockey’s career choices.
These days, you are more likely to catch Traecey chasing bugs than trophies as he grows his new business – it’s aptly named Giddy-Up Pest Control.
“I had a lot of injuries, bad falls including that one nine or 10 years ago that nearly killed me,” he said.
“It was kind of like having a refrigerator dropped on top of you. My wife and daughter didn’t want me to continue
“I started doing pest control part-time with a friend of mine and really enjoyed the work – I loved it, you get to meet interesting people and see some interesting things.”
Mr Traecey launched Giddy-Up Pest Control in January after working fulltime in pest control for seven years.
“It’s not hard for me because I love doing it,” he said of his new career.
“It’s a real pleasure for me to get up in the morning and do what I do.”
Mr Traecey arrived on the Gold Coast in 1980 as an 18year-old apprentice jockey, loved the city and never left.
He won the Gold Coast apprentice jockey premiership, rode in Malaysia and took four wins from 49 starts in Australia.
Of all the pests he tackles in his new calling, Mr Traecey said there was one creature that was more challenging than a heavy track at Murwillumbah.
“The most pesky pest that we have to deal with would be bed bugs – they are really labour intensive and time intensive,” he said.
Mr Traecey hopes to grow Giddy-Up to the point where he can put more trucks on the road.
“I’m getting more phone calls, people are seeing me get around in my truck and waving – it’s going well.”