COMEBACK KID MARKS “SECOND ANNIVERSARY” BY RIDING TRACKWORK

RACING’S “comeback kid” Locky Scorse marked the second anniversary today of his near fatal fall at Taree in the best possible way.

He rode half a dozen gallops at Broadmeadow this morning as his confidence grows about a return to riding in races.

“I’m really excited about the future,” the 21-year-old, whose courage and determination knows no bounds, said this afternoon.

“My confidence is back, and that’s hugely important.

“I’m going out riding trackwork not worrying about anything going wrong.

“I’m feeling great, and 100 per cent certain I will resume my riding career.

“I can’t say exactly when that will happen, but it will happen.”

Scorse, who turned 21 in April, got the all clear in early August from Newcastle Brain Injury Centre neurology specialist Dr David Kellett to start riding horses three-quarter pace and gallops along with jumpouts at Broadmeadow.

That in itself was an amazing achievement given he suffered two bleeds on the brain and a stroke when his mount Balzando went amiss and crashed near the 500m in a Class 3 Handicap (1262m) at Taree on October 29, 2023.

Three other jockeys also fell in a chain reaction.

Such has been Scorse’s progress that he will soon join successful Sydney trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald at their satellite stable at Scone.

“While I will still go to rehab in Newcastle every Monday, I will drive to Scone afterwards and ride trackwork from Tuesday to Friday for Annabel and Rob,” he said.

“After Friday trackwork I will come home and ride work at Broadmeadow on Saturday mornings.

“I’m mainly riding work here for Kris Lees, who has been very willing to help me in my drive to get back to the races, and Annabel and Rob also are excited about supporting me.”

Scorse says his next important task is to pass a cognitive test.

“Once I can do that, I can start riding in barrier trials under RacingNSW stewards’ supervision as a final step to being cleared to race again.

“My aim is to ride in trials in the new year, and we’ll see what happens from there.

“It doesn’t matter if it is six months or 12 months before I’m riding in races again, but I’m determined to do it and have no doubt at all I will.

“I definitely want to get back to the good start I had in my career.”

Scorse as a 19-year-old, made his riding debut at Tuncurry on July 1 two years ago, and two days later at his fourth ride fulfilled every jockey’s dream by leading throughout on Rockbarton Roman, prepared by his master, experienced Newcastle trainer David Atkins, at Muswellbrook in a Class 1 Handicap (1450m).

He had ridden another five winners at the time of the Taree incident.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter staff is credited with saving the young jockey’s life, and airlifted him in a critical condition to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital.

He spent 23 days there; the first three in intensive care and remainder in the high observation unit.

Scorse then was moved to the Rankin Park Rehab Hospital for a further week before spending several weeks at the Brain Injury Centre, which has done an outstanding job to assist his recovery.

Scorse is fully aware that five fellow injured jockeys before him who visited the Brain Injury Centre have never been able to get back on a horse.

That’s why he realises he is the lucky one, and is determined to make every post a winner to getting back into the saddle on racedays.

Scorse was told it would be two to four years before he got back on a horse.

“I’m 16 months ahead of schedule,” he said proudly.

When we spoke with Scorse a few months back, should he not be able to achieve his goal of resuming his riding career, he had fallback plans to look at training racehorses or become a jockeys’ manager.

Take it as read those plans have been well and truly put on hold!

Story John Curtis, October 29, 2025 - Pics supplied