Jockey told ‘risks too great’ for return

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 48

Jockey told ‘risks too great’ for return

PA Wellington A former Cambridge jockey, Heather Mackinnon, has been told she will not be able to ride again.

Mackinnon, aged 24, said she was given the ultimatum by a Wellington neurologist last week.

But Mackinnon, who is back living with her parents in Wellington, said she will not sit back and take the decision lightly. “I’m getting a second opinion from a neurologist in the next week or so because the one I have been seeing has said point blank that he will never give me a clearance to race ride,” Mackinnon said.

“That didn’t tell me specifically whether I was well or what. He just said ’no, don’t because the risks are too great.’ I mean, should I get up in the morning? “So I am going to get a second opinion to ftee just what my chances actually are.

“To just say no and not even give you the option of making up your own mind ... what does he think I am, an imbecile? “I respect his opinion but tell me it is not a good idea, don’t tell me I can’t.”

Mackinnon suffered severe head injuries in a race fall at Paeroa trials in January and spent about two weeks in Auckland Hospital. Up to the time of the accident she had ridden about 70 winners and had become stable jockey for a Matamata trainer, Bill Ford.

She completed her apprenticeship with Brian Cameron at Cambridge. Mackinnon said she was quite willing to go along with the neurologist’s advice soon after the fall.

“Initially he had told mum and dad at Auckland Hospital that I would be out for at least a year. When I first went to see him he said definitely no race riding for two years.

“I could understand that because if you had a fall again it could set you back a lot further.

“But now just to be told never ... it’s annoying because I haven’t even had as much as a headache.” Mackinnon is now filling in some of her time with afternoon work as a clerk in the stud book department of the New Zealand Racing Conference in Wellington. “It’s just good to have something to do — it’s so boring,” she said. Should Mackinnon, who is only 150 cm tall (sft), ever resume riding she would never be plagued with weight problems.

“Not at all. Right now I would be walking about 48 kilos.”

Mackinnon will change codes on Friday night when she is guest of the Wellington Harness Racing Club at Hutt Park. The night’s main event is named in her honour.