Geraghty helps to restore our faith in sporting heroes
SPORT has been ensconced in an age of greed for a long time. And too many of our ‘heroes’ are pampered and overpaid. They cheat one another like there is no tomorrow, and fool sports fans into the bargain. Honour and bravery, two of the sturdiest hallmarks of sport once upon a time, are harder than ever to pinpoint.
But then our faith in sportsmen and women is suddenly restored.
Barry Geraghty spoke from his hospital bed last Sunday afternoon and reminded us that the core of some sporting pursuits have not changed at all. The Meath jockey who has met with amazing success in his time, had a high-speed fall at Kempton Park the previous day.
He suffered a collapsed lung, and in addition six of his ribs were broken. But the only ‘devastation’ Geraghty would talk about was the fact that he will miss next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
The 37-year-old was ‘kicked about like a football’ according to watching journalists.
‘Last night was pretty rough,’ Geraghty admitted. ‘I’ve broken ribs individually before but never had six go all at the same time.’ Nevertheless, he expected his recovery to be ‘straightforward’ and he further expected to ‘be back for Aintree’. A story such as Barry Geraghty’s is a recurring one in racing, which is not immune from trickery and chicanery now and again itself. However the Sport of Kings quickly restores our faith and allows us to care less about the ridiculous wealth and self-indulgence of golfers and soccer players. It also restores our faith in the face of the lies and cheating ways that have left cycling and athletics sullied. Geraghty’s misfortune and his casual response to what happened to him last weekend reminds us, however, not to take this very special breed of sportsperson for granted. Geraghty (left) has ridden 34 winners at the Cheltenham Festival in his time, and twice left the Cotswolds as leading jockey. But rather than seeking our sympathy this last week, he’s been promising us that he’ll be back before we know it.