Connor Beasley set to make Bank Holiday return to racing at Redcar

Beasley, who is from Spennymoor, was carving out a reputation as one of the most highly-regarded young jockeys in the country before his world was literally turned upside down as his mount, Cumbrianna, clipped the heels of one of his rivals and came crashing to the ground.

The 21-year-old suffered a fractured skull and spine in the fall, as well as suffering extensive damage to his neck and ear, and had to have a drip inserted into his skull to remove the bleeding and plates installed to repair the internal damage.

He was forced to wear a full neck and head brace to hold the upper half of his body bolt upright for more than three months, but was able to return to the Denton Hall stables of his main employer, Michael Dods, in January to begin riding out.

Since then, he has undergone a series of tests and examinations in order to receive a licence to begin race riding again, and provided the British Horseracing Authority rubber-stamp his application in time, he is due to return to action at Redcar Racecourse’s Bank Holiday meeting in five days’ time.

Beasley has been pencilled in to ride the Dods-trained duo Bradleysintown and Mecca’s Missus on what would be an extremely emotional occasion for all involved.

“It’ll be great to see him back in action again,” said Dods, who championed Beasley’s progress through the claiming ranks and is set to use him as one of his stable jockeys this season along with Paul Mulrennan. “I remember going into hospital to see him on the Sunday after he’d had his operation, and it was unbelievable to see the state he was in.

“So to come from that to where he is now is incredible really, and it says everything about the type of person he is. He’s so focused, so it shouldn’t really be a surprise that he’s recovered so well and turned things around so quickly.

“He got married in December, and as soon as he came back after that, he was desperate to be back in here riding. He’s been riding out with us three times a week for the last couple of months, and has also been going down to Malton to work with Julie Camacho. On top of that, he’s also been going to Jack Berry House to do his fitness work.”

Prior to his injury, Beasley had partnered the now-retired Spinatrix to big-race victories at York and Ripon, and Dods is confident his lengthy lay-off will have done nothing to dent his riding capabilities.

“Connor is so professional and focused that he knows what he wants to do, and he will do it,” he said. “It might initially be difficult to persuade some owners and trainers that he’s as good as he was, but once they see him riding, they’ll realise the fall has not affected him at all.

“As a stable, it’s a massive bonus that we’ve got him back for the season. But the most important thing is that, for Connor personally, it’s a reward for all the hard work he’s had to put in during his recovery.”