Taylor relishes riding on
Jockey almost retired after horror incident
STRADBROKE Handicapwinning jockey Jason Taylor concedes he considered retirement after dodging death when a horse crushed and kicked him in a horror incident last year.
But the popular jockey, who won the 2011 Stradbroke on Sincero, is glad he made the call to ride on.
He has returned to the saddle with a vengeance – albeit after having another incident when another horse kicked him in the ribs.
Taylor, who primarily rides on the Gold Coast and on the provincial and North Queensland circuit, will make a rare city Saturday appearance at Eagle Farm.
He rides King Klaus, the resuming sprinter who has attained a cult following for Bundaberg trainer Gary Clem.
King Klaus is rated a $7.50 chance in the 1000m Open Handicap where smart David Vandyke sprinter Weona Smartone is the $1.85 favourite.
In February last year, Taylor was seriously injured in the barriers at the Gold Coast races after a horse he was riding stood in the air and flipped on top of him on the ground and then kicked him in the head.
After being crushed and kicked, Taylor suffered nine broken ribs, a punctured lung and facial injuries.
He was out of the saddle for an extended period and seriously considered retirement when he returned only to have another horse kick him, putting him on the sidelines again.
“I did think about giving it away,” Taylor said.
“But my wife and I had a discussion and we thought if I did give it away, what was the plan then?
“I decided to return, but if at any stage I felt unsure and I didn’t want to ride, I was shutting up shop and I was out.”
Taylor is riding at Townsville on Friday and was then set to ride at the Mackay meeting on Saturday.
But he noticed King Klaus was entered at Eagle Farm on Saturday. “I do ride the horse quite a lot and Gary Clem has been very loyal with me,” Taylor said. “I have really got the passion and the love for riding back.”