Jockey Blake Spriggs retires following serious race fall
Blake Spriggs realises he has won the biggest race of his life.
It's why he can accept his riding days are over. So too are his chances of winning The Everest on Headwall this year.
The talented jockey who has ridden nearly 700 winners is still recovering from horrific injuries he sustained in a race fall at Moruya back in January.
His body was so badly broken, his injuries so severe, doctors told his fiancee, KC Osborne, to prepare for the worst.
But Spriggs defied the odds. His recovery continues, albeit slowly, but the reality is he will never ride again.
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Spriggs, 33, visited his neurosurgeon earlier this week where he received the inevitable medical advice.
'I have micro-bleeds on the brain and my neurologist advised me if I sustained another concussion it would basically kill me,'' Spriggs said.
'It puts everything into perspective. I was walking into that appointment with the theory I would not be riding again anyway.
'But that advice has left me with no thought of whether I should try to return.
'Now I look at it like my son, Brooklyn, gets a father and that's the most important thing. I nearly wasn't here, I was as close as you get to going without going.''
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
The Moment
Spriggs remembers nothing of that day when a fall at Moruya races ended his career. It nearly ended his life, too.
His injuries were severe. Fractured left forearm and collarbone, dislocated left elbow, all but two of his ribs were broken, both lungs collapsed, his liver was haemorrhaging, his kidneys shut down, and he had bruising to the brain.
'Essentially, I was on the track drowning in my own blood but the paramedics saved my life,'' Spriggs said.
'I was rushed to hospital and KC was told to prepare for the worst as they were not sure I was going to make it.
'I don't have any memory of that as I was heavily sedated for about two weeks.
'When they tried to bring me out of sedation the machines would start going off so they had to keep putting me back under.''
When Spriggs finally woke, he had no idea what had happened or where he was. He was intubated and unable to move.
'I had a whiteboard because I couldn't talk with the tubes I had in,'' he said. 'But the first thing I wrote on the board made everyone cry. I said 'I'm fine'.''
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
The Recovery
The truth was Spriggs was not 'fine'. His road to recovery was going to be long and painful.
'I realised I was in a bad way but the doctors and nurses at Canberra Hospital were amazing,'' he said.
'I am very grateful to those doctors and nurses who saved my life and I stay in contact with them on social media.
'I almost died doing my job and they saved mine doing theirs. It says a lot about these people.
'I said the day you guys go on strike for a pay rise I will be there marching with you. It's a tough job they do, the hours they work and they go through some hard times trying to save people and they keep turning up every day and go through it again.
'It is a little bit weird in a way but after I was born in Canberra Hospital, I left on January 17 and had not gone back there for 33 years until I was taken there after the fall. So, that hospital has given me life twice.''
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
The Future
Spriggs is concentrating on the healing process and that necessitates putting any future career plans on hold for now.
'At the moment I'm not sure what I am going to do,'' he said.
'My neurologist said it will be 12 months to three years before my brain returns to as close to where it was but it will never be the same.
'I will have memory issues and focus issues. I've noticed my memory is not as good but it is slowly getting better.
'My focus is OK if I am talking to someone one-on-one but if I am in a room with people talking around me I do find it harder to focus on the person I am talking to.
'But that is all good. If that is the worst of my worries I can accept that.
'I kind of promised myself I would not make a decision on what I would do next until January next year based on my neurologist's advice.
'I hate sitting still, I love to be busy. I've always kept busy, but my neurologist said to me the less stress you put your body through, the more rest you get and the more happiness in your life then the better your recovery would be.''
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
The Family
His riding career might be over but Spriggs has so much to look forward to in life including getting married.
'KC and I have had to put our wedding on hold with everything else that has been going on but we can start to plan for it now,'' Spriggs said.
'I'm also spending a lot of time with our little boy, Brooklyn, and I'm loving it.
'I remember when I left hospital after four weeks I had lost that connection with him which was heartbreaking. I think that hurt me more than my broken bones, more than anything.
'But since then I have been able to rebuild that relationship with Brooklyn and now I can spend all my time with him.
'When I walk in the door, he runs up to me yelling 'Daddy'. It has made me realise how lucky I was to survive this fall. I only went to work for him to give him the best and all he wanted was me.''
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Headwall and The Everest
Spriggs has ridden a Group 1 winner and also rode in a Melbourne Cup but it would have been a career highlight to partner Headwall in the $20 million The Everest in October.
The jockey has come to terms with the fact his riding days are behind him but that won't stop him from pushing for Headwall to be given an Everest slot.
'I think it is absolutely incredible that Headwall hasn't already got a slot,'' Spriggs said.
'If they do pick him for The Everest, you will get a horse that settles off speed and he will unleash late.
'If it rains, it will wipe a few out but enhance his chances. On a good track, he has run second in a Newmarket Handicap, third in a TJ Smith Stakes, second in The Quokka and he probably should have placed in the Oakleigh Plate.
'The way he has improved through his last preparation and everything suggests he will be better again.
'I had such a big opinion of him for a long time even though I had a lot of people say he was not as good as I thought he was.
'But now he is showing that he is a genuine Group 1 horse even though he hasn't won one yet. It is sad I won't be part of him anymore but I will be cheering him on.''
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
The Promise
Spriggs' premature retirement means he won't get the opportunity to ride Headwall this spring and fulfil a promise he made to the sprinter's late owner, Marie Young.
'I promised Marie (a partner of Headwall who died of MND last year) I would win a big race on him but sadly we lost her before that could happen,'' Spriggs said.
'When I was hurt, Marie's husband, Reg, sat on the bed at hospital when I was unconscious for days on end.
'They have been very close to me for a long time and I think Marie was up there putting the case for me to stay down here.
'I believe Marie can accept me not winning a big race for her because I've won the race of life.''
Originally published as 'Another concussion would kill me': Jockey Blake Spriggs retires as he continues recovery from Moruya race fall
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'I have micro-bleeds on the brain and my neurologist advised me if I sustained another concussion it would basically kill me,'' Spriggs said. 'It puts everything into perspective. I was walking into that appointment with the theory I would not be riding again anyway. 'But that advice has left me with no thought of whether I should try to return. 'Now I look at it like my son, Brooklyn, gets a father and that's the most important thing. I nearly wasn't here, I was as close as you get to going without going.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Moment Spriggs remembers nothing of that day when a fall at Moruya races ended his career. It nearly ended his life, too. His injuries were severe. Fractured left forearm and collarbone, dislocated left elbow, all but two of his ribs were broken, both lungs collapsed, his liver was haemorrhaging, his kidneys shut down, and he had bruising to the brain. 'Essentially, I was on the track drowning in my own blood but the paramedics saved my life,'' Spriggs said. 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It says a lot about these people. 'I said the day you guys go on strike for a pay rise I will be there marching with you. It's a tough job they do, the hours they work and they go through some hard times trying to save people and they keep turning up every day and go through it again. 'It is a little bit weird in a way but after I was born in Canberra Hospital, I left on January 17 and had not gone back there for 33 years until I was taken there after the fall. So, that hospital has given me life twice.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Future Spriggs is concentrating on the healing process and that necessitates putting any future career plans on hold for now. 'At the moment I'm not sure what I am going to do,'' he said. 'My neurologist said it will be 12 months to three years before my brain returns to as close to where it was but it will never be the same. 'I will have memory issues and focus issues. I've noticed my memory is not as good but it is slowly getting better. 'My focus is OK if I am talking to someone one-on-one but if I am in a room with people talking around me I do find it harder to focus on the person I am talking to. 'But that is all good. If that is the worst of my worries I can accept that. 'I kind of promised myself I would not make a decision on what I would do next until January next year based on my neurologist's advice. 'I hate sitting still, I love to be busy. I've always kept busy, but my neurologist said to me the less stress you put your body through, the more rest you get and the more happiness in your life then the better your recovery would be.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Family His riding career might be over but Spriggs has so much to look forward to in life including getting married. 'KC and I have had to put our wedding on hold with everything else that has been going on but we can start to plan for it now,'' Spriggs said. 'I'm also spending a lot of time with our little boy, Brooklyn, and I'm loving it. 'I remember when I left hospital after four weeks I had lost that connection with him which was heartbreaking. I think that hurt me more than my broken bones, more than anything. 'But since then I have been able to rebuild that relationship with Brooklyn and now I can spend all my time with him. 'When I walk in the door, he runs up to me yelling 'Daddy'. It has made me realise how lucky I was to survive this fall. I only went to work for him to give him the best and all he wanted was me.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Headwall and The Everest Spriggs has ridden a Group 1 winner and also rode in a Melbourne Cup but it would have been a career highlight to partner Headwall in the $20 million The Everest in October. The jockey has come to terms with the fact his riding days are behind him but that won't stop him from pushing for Headwall to be given an Everest slot. 'I think it is absolutely incredible that Headwall hasn't already got a slot,'' Spriggs said. 'If they do pick him for The Everest, you will get a horse that settles off speed and he will unleash late. 'If it rains, it will wipe a few out but enhance his chances. On a good track, he has run second in a Newmarket Handicap, third in a TJ Smith Stakes, second in The Quokka and he probably should have placed in the Oakleigh Plate. 'The way he has improved through his last preparation and everything suggests he will be better again. 'I had such a big opinion of him for a long time even though I had a lot of people say he was not as good as I thought he was. 'But now he is showing that he is a genuine Group 1 horse even though he hasn't won one yet. It is sad I won't be part of him anymore but I will be cheering him on.'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Promise Spriggs' premature retirement means he won't get the opportunity to ride Headwall this spring and fulfil a promise he made to the sprinter's late owner, Marie Young. 'I promised Marie (a partner of Headwall who died of MND last year) I would win a big race on him but sadly we lost her before that could happen,'' Spriggs said. 'When I was hurt, Marie's husband, Reg, sat on the bed at hospital when I was unconscious for days on end. 'They have been very close to me for a long time and I think Marie was up there putting the case for me to stay down here. 'I believe Marie can accept me not winning a big race for her because I've won the race of life.'' Originally published as 'Another concussion would kill me': Jockey Blake Spriggs retires as he continues recovery from Moruya race fall
