Former top Irish jockey who cheated death in horror fall begins life as trainer

WHEN former Limerick jockey Brian Toomey insists he is the ‘luckiest man alive’, it is hard to argue with him.

Toomey suffered a horror fall in 2013 at Perth Racecourse and was pronounced clinically dead for seven seconds. The talented horseman was given just a three per cent chance of survival by doctors, having been placed in an induced coma.

However, after spending 157 days in hospital, Toomey was discharged and just over two years later he was back race riding.

His return to the saddle was a relatively short one and with more than 70 winners to his credit in the UK, the jump jockey called time on that part of his career.

Now the 34-year-old is set to embark on the latest challenge in his remarkable life in racing after gaining his trainer's licence.

The well wishes have been pouring in since Toomey made his announcement to take up training, including several messages from well known sports stars, including members of Limerick's multiple All-Ireland winning hurlers and a number of Munster and Ireland rugby players.

Toomey, from Manister, has made a remarkable recovery from the injuries he sustained in his fall from Solway Dandy in a handicap hurdle just over 10 years ago.

“To be honest I don't appreciate how lucky I am. It is crazy when you look back at what I have been through,” Toomey told Leader Sport.

“When you look at the pictures, the scan of my skull and brain, it's scary to think what I have been through, like. I am the luckiest man alive, to be honest with you. I genuinely don't think I have any after effects. I actually wouldn't have a clue that what happened to me actually happened. It's crazy to believe, to be fair.

“I had to re-sit my driving test the year after my injury. You have a 25% chance of having a car crash. We get paid to do our hobby (ride horses), we call it our hobby, but there is a dangerous side to it and racing horses is dangerous. They say we get a fall every 1 in 10 races on average, that is what the stat is.

“But I was lucky in the career I had even though I wasn't the most successful, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I was brought up on a farm where cows took priority. I am not sure where I found a passion for racing but I managed to convince my parents.

“In recent years I have been riding out and gaining experience off top trainers. Obviously recovery was slow after my injuries. But once that was over and done with I got back racing for a short period.”

After a long road back from injury, in June 2015 Toomey was passed medically fit to ride again and was re-licensed as a professional jockey.

“I was lucky that I didn't get a fall or get injured when I got back. I rode for one season. However, training was always my goal even before the injury.

“Training horses was always going to be my end goal. At this stage I think I have been on every TV show bar Jeremy Kyle, people are nearly bored of listening about it at this stage, but I have picked up some good connections.”

The ‘best of luck’ messages have been pouring in for Brian Toomey since announcing his decision to become a trainer, including several from well-known sports figures.

Toomey explained: “I have kept in touch over the years with a few of the Limerick hurling team, including Declan Hannon, Nickie Quaid and Kyle Hayes. “I may try convince them in time to get a syndicate together!

“I messaged a lot of the players after their All-Ireland final success. I played against a lot of them at younger age groups up along when I was playing hurling. I have great respect for them all and what they have achieved for themselves and he county. It has been incredible."

“I was in school with Declan Hannon (at Ardscoil Ris). I was in school with Dave Kilcoyne too. Actually Dave Kilcoyne and Conor Murray sent me on videos wishing me luck in my next chapter and stuff, so that was a huge boost.

“To have successful sportsmen like them wishing me luck was massive. I show everyone Conor Murray and Dave Kilcoyne's videos wishing me well.”

Toomey is getting ready to train horses from Bowstridge Farm yard in Chalfont St Giles previously used by the now retired Martin Bosley.

He explained: “I heard Martin Bosley's yard was available. I got in touch with him and he said to me to pop down. When I saw it, I was totally blown away by it. It wasn't online or didn't have a big fancy website or anything like that.

“I hadn't realised what it was like. It is owned by the Carey Group, a sizeable construction company over here and it's in a beautiful part of the country here in Buckinghamshire. It's only 24 or 25 miles outside of central London. Ozzy Osbourne lives near me, like, it is an area where a lot of celebs live. It's a great opportunity. The nearest racecourses are Royal Windsor, Kempton, or Newbury, Ascot wouldn't be too far.

“There is a private gallop, maybe up to 40 boxes, it's state-of-the-art. I have a website up now. Oisin Murphy, the three-time champion jockey, has been down here and he complimented the place when he visited. It definitely catches the eye. I would like to train horses for the flat preferably, but I am not in a position to turn down any horses at the moment either."

“My story with my injury was well documented, but results do the talking from now on. I have overcome a lot of obstacles, now it's down to results. My plan is to give every horse the time and chance they need and we can go from there. This is a great opportunity.”

Brian Toomey's website is www.toomeyracing.co.uk