Doctors pronounced me dead – now Harry Redknapp’s breathed new life into my racing career

11 months ago 55

BRAVE Brian Toomey has hailed the role Harry Redknapp has played in kickstarting his new career as a trainer.

Toomey was forced to quit the saddle after suffering a horror fall at Perth in 2013.

The former jockey is now relishing his second chance at life as a racehorse trainer backed by footie legend Harry Redknapp[/caption]

He was pronounced clinically dead by paramedics and then had emergency brain surgery — before spending nearly six months in hospital.

Miracle man Toomey, 34, set up as a trainer in October last year and said: “Harry has been unbelievable. He has been an inspiration.

“He told me not give up on my dream to to be a trainer.

“He’s been to see the yard and played a huge part in getting it.

“I can’t thank Harry enough. He said he would do all he could to help me start training.” The football legend has been true to his word and, last month, Toomey sent out his first winner — with Redknapp’s horse Wake Up Harry.

Toomey said: “With Harry’s help and also that of Kia Joorabchian of AMO Racing I believe I can make a success out of training.”

The trainer opened up to Sun Racing’s Phil Thomas on his remarkable journey…

THE Kempton Park lights cut through the December gloom as Wake Up Harry blasted in to win the last.

It was a lowly Class 6 handicap over seven furlongs, worth £3,140 to the winner. The track’s final Flat race of the year, and half the sparse crowd was already heading for home.

Certainly another world to the King George, one of the jewels of jump racing’s Festive calendar, taking place at the same venue six days later.

Yet for victorious connections, this was just as big. In some ways even more so.

For trainer Brian Toomey the reason will become apparent.

For owner Harry Redknapp, the man who sent him the horse, after the two hit it off immediately and who has played such a big role in him getting established.

And very much for the Carey family, the giant construction group company who own the Bowstridge Farm yard in Chalfont St Giles which is now home to Toomey.

Yet ultimately no-one more than Toomey himself . . . the first win of his training career for a man living his dream. A man who had already defied the odds, simply by living.

Ten years earlier he had been a jockey of some potential when a crashing fall ended his riding career. For seven seconds, it actually ended everything — he was clinically dead.

A horror fall at Perth left him in an induced coma.

Doctors had to remove part of his skull and stricken Toomey was given a THREE PER CENT chance of survival.

Redknapp likes what he sees in Toomey and has thrown his full support behind the handler[/caption]

He remembers little and, naturally, it is not a door he wishes to reopen.

Suffice to say his determination confounded everyone as he slowly recovered. To the point, in fact, he even returned to the saddle briefly two years later. Only to be floored once more when the BHA declined to grant him another jockey’s licence.

The fact he had ridden again after his injury also meant no insurance pay-out, as Aviva insisted it activated a small print clause.

For most, it would have been the final kick in the teeth.

But Brian Toomey isn’t most.

He has fought for everything he has achieved, and this was no different.

It took the thick end of a decade, more brush-offs and boots to the you-know-whats, but he remained as determined and dogged as Desert Orchid coming up the Cheltenham hill.

Working his way through the industry, passing his trainers course and eventually getting his licence. He managed the lot.

Which is how we arrived at that Kempton night last month, training his first winner. That it was for Redknapp made it even more memorable. Limerick-born Toomey said: “Yes, it has been tough, but I’m very determined.

“I’m not from a wealthy family, I’ve worked for everything I’ve ever got in life, and this is no different.

“The Careys are brilliant to me, and treat me like family. I owe them so much and can’t express how grateful I am.

“When I had that first winner they were as excited as me!

“And Harry has been a massive help as well. A friend introduced us and we got on like a house on fire. He said he’d send me a horse, and that was Wake Up Harry.

“So training my first winner for him made it very special.

“He was working for Sky that night, but sent a text within a minute of the finish saying how proud he was of me.”

It was even more emotional when Toomey’s father Johnny sadly passed away on New Year’s Day after a long illness — but at least got to see his son celebrate that first training triumph.

Brian added: “My mum Marian Face Timed me the day after and had the phone in front of dad, so we got to see each other.

“He knows how passionate I was about this and what it meant.

“A few years earlier they were ready to arrange my funeral and now here I am living my dream.

“Of course it’s hard, but do I see it like that because I’m doing something I love?

“I just think I am very fortunate to have the chance. It shows what you can achieve if you don’t give up.”

Toomey, 34, knows a long road still lies ahead, with eight horses in his Buckinghamshire stable right now.

That includes one for football super agent Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing and another for Dundee United director Jimmy Fyffe.

Redknapp has promised to help find a few more.

Harry has rarely been as delighted to win as he was that night — even when his Shakem Up’Arry romped home in Cheltenham’s big New Year’s Day chase 12 days later.

Now he is determined to do all he can to support a man he rates highly.

He said: “I know his story, I know what he’s been through and he impressed me so much.

“Brian’s such a hard-working boy and, although, I’m not one for moving horses around, I wanted to get one to him.

“I was as pleased as punch when it won.

“He’s a great guy, with great facilities and everything is in place. Anyone looking for a trainer could do a lot worse.

“He’s started great. Now we need to kick on and get him a few more horses.”