FORMER GOLDEN GIRL BACK IN THE SADDLE

By Matt Nicholls

13/06/2012

melbourneracing@gmail.com

FOUR years ago, Lacey Morrison’s life changed forever.

At the time she was regarded as one of the better jockeys in Queensland – certainly the best female hoop in the state.

But on Ipswich Cup day in 2008, Morrison was involved in one of the worst falls in the last decade.

Four horses came down and two jockeys were able to walk away.

But two didn’t.

Tony Pattillo and Morrison were in a bad way.

The latter, after being knocked out, laid on the Ipswich track for 15 minutes while being treated.

It was sickening footage to watch and Morrison was later diagnosed with bruising and bleeding to the brain.

The following months were tough and the rehabilitation period was extensive.

But that didn’t make Morrison quit.

She was determined to get back in the saddle and race again.

“I told everyone I was going to be back riding, but the medical people made it clear there were a lot of risks and repercussions,” she said.

“At the time I didn't realise the extent of the injury.

“It was worse than I thought.”

But being passionate about racing, as well as being stubborn, spurred Morrison to return to riding.

She spent months training, mostly working on regaining her balance, and rode in numerous trials to satisfy Queensland Racing stewards that she was fit to return to racing.

Her comeback lasted just one Saturday.

“I had one day back riding and the following Tuesday a horse stumbled with me and I fell off. That set off the reaction that made me realise that if I got another knock on the head it might mean permanent brain damage.”

It was over.

“I rang Queensland Racing to tell them I wouldn't be renewing my jockey's licence. I didn't know what I was going to do in the immediate future. I had no idea,” she said.

That was the end of Lacey Morrison’s career as a jockey.

Or so she thought.

Many readers of Melbourne Racing would be unaware that Morrison is now back in the saddle after getting her medical clearance – something she had given up on.

But unless you’re betting on the Tuesday meetings at Townsville, you won’t see Morrison’s name in any TAB form guides.

She is now based in the outback Queensland city of Mount Isa.

They only race on Saturdays in north-west Queensland but it’s been a perfect platform for Morrison to get back in the groove.

“I’m so glad to be back and loving every minute of it,” she told Melbourne Racing.

“I came out to the Northern Territory around Christmas because I’ve got family there and did a bit of work for (Mount Isa trainer) Jay Morris in December.

“The plan was always for me to go back home to Toowoomba and do my trials to come back to riding but Jay asked me to return, so I’m riding out here until August.

“The winters are pretty harsh in Toowoomba and I haven’t got my weight down completely yet and the minimum out here is 56kg.

“So it’s been good to get race fit in the country where no one see me make mistakes,” she said with a laugh.

Because they only race on Saturdays in the north-west, mostly five-race cards, Morrison flies to Townsville most Tuesdays to complement her rides in the outback.

Since her return at the start of the year, she’s been steadily improving her strike rate.

She rode a winner and a second at Townsville yesterday from her only two rides and on Saturday ran second in the Mount Isa Cup aboard the Morris-trained Just A Touch.

Carrying 62kgs, it was always going to be a tough ask for last year’s Birdsville Cup winner, but Morrison gave him every chance.

“It was a good, tough race,” the jockey said.

“I’ve won a couple of races on him and he’s probably a favourite of mine but the weight was a bit much for him on Saturday.”

Morris, who has been one of the leading trainers in Mount Isa for the last three or four years, is pleased with Morrison’s progress.

“She’s going really well, even though we only have a small team in work at the moment,” he said.

Morris and Morrison have known each other for years.

“The first time I rode for Jay was when EI (equine influenza) was on and there was a TAB meeting at Mount Isa,” the jockey said.

“I rode a couple of winners for him and we hit it off then and have been mates ever since.”

Asked about the standard of racing in Mount Isa, Morrison admitted it was surprising.

“It’s not the best, that’s for sure, but it’s not as bad as many would think,” she said.

“Before I had my fall I probably would have thought I was too good to come out here – I was a bit arrogant – but since I had my fall it doesn’t matter where I’m riding.”

With just a few months left in “The Isa”, also known as the rodeo capital of Australia, Morrison hopes to continue to fine tune her skills before heading back to Toowoomba.

Once a top-10 finisher in the Brisbane jockeys’ premiership, which included a win in Group 3 Wyndham Estate Stakes aboard Proudly Agro, Morrison is happy to avoid the city scene when she returns to the south-east.

“One of my aims is to win a Toowoomba premiership,” Morrison said.

“If I happen to ride a city-class horse then I’ll go to Brisbane to ride it but I’m focussing on smaller goals at the moment.

"To be honest I’m so glad just to be riding, every winner feels like a city winner at the moment.”

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