‘Such a shame’ as promising jockey forced to retire aged 23 on ‘medical advice’

PROMISING jockey Gearoid Harney has been forced to retire from racing aged just 23 on ‘medical advice’.

The conditional rider ‘kept getting concussed’ when he fell and suffered a heavy crash at Fakenham in January.

Jockey Gearoid Harney has been forced to retire aged just 23Alamy

Harney was rushed to hospital for urgent care and racing was abandoned soon after his slip from David Pipe’s Micronormous – which would turn out to be his final ever race.

Unfortunately, while he recovered from that incident, doctors had advised him to stop racing altogether.

A post from Pipe said on X: “Wishing conditional jockey Gearoid Harney @Gearoid84997068 the very best for the future as he unfortunately will not be returning to the saddle following his fall in January on medical advice.

“He rode ten winners for me, the highlight being Kingston Queen’s Listed Bumper success.”

Pipe added: “The scans showed there was still some damage there and it wasn’t right for him to get his licence back. The decision was in their hands.

“He kept getting concussed when he fell and the IJF have been very supportive, so he’ll have to have a think about what he’ll do in the future.”

Harney came close to more disaster at Market Rasen earlier this season when he was running round the Lincolnshire track.

Unaware a race was taking place behind him, he continued jogging as the horses thundered past.

After narrowly avoiding what could have been a terrible accident just days before his Fakenham fall, Harney said: “I was mistaken but thankfully there was no harm done.

“It was close enough and too close for comfort. I don’t think they’ll be forgetting that one in a hurry!”

Harney came close to disaster at Market Rasen when he jogged on the track in the middle of a race

Punters were quick to offer Harney their support, with some saying it was a great ‘shame’ he had been forced out.

A post from Irish Racing referenced the tragic death of Michael O’Sullivan in a race earlier this year as a reminder of the dangers jockeys face every day.

The message read: “We wish Irish jockey Gearoid Harney all the best as he is forced to retire due to a severe head injury from a fall at Fakenham in January.

“In a challenging year for our sport, marked by the tragic passing of Michael O’Sullivan, this incident further highlights the risks jockeys face.”

Harney retires with 21 wins from 197 rides and just shy of £250,000 in prize money earnings.

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