Vince Halliday
Flat jockey Vincent Alexander Halliday was born in Belfast on August 21, 1970. He served his apprenticeship with Kevin Prendergast before moving to England in 1995 where he spent 13 years plying his trade as a freelance.
Flat jockey Vincent Alexander Halliday was born in Belfast on August 21, 1970. He served his apprenticeship with Kevin Prendergast before moving to England in 1995 where he spent 13 years plying his trade as a freelance.
He struggled for rides and winners in the early years, riding just one from 41 mounts in 1996, none in 1997, and one in both 1998 and 1999. It was thus a comparative breakthrough when he registered scores of four in each of the next four seasons. He rode in Dubai during the 2002/03 campaign, achieving one third place from nine rides.
He struggled for rides and winners in the early years, riding just one from 41 mounts in 1996, none in 1997, and one in both 1998 and 1999. It was thus a comparative breakthrough when he registered scores of four in each of the next four seasons. He rode in Dubai during the 2002/03 campaign, achieving one third place from nine rides.
He was back down to just one winner (trained by Richard Whitaker) from 73 rides in 2005 and there seemed no light at the end of the tunnel. Hence, Vince bit the bullet and moved his tack to America in 2008.
He was back down to just one winner (trained by Richard Whitaker) from 73 rides in 2005 and there seemed no light at the end of the tunnel. Hence, Vince bit the bullet and moved his tack to America in 2008.
He was based at Delaware Park but also rode at several neighbouring race tracks, including Laurel, Pimlico, Parx, Penn National, Charles Town, Atlantic City, Meadowlands as well as Monmouth. He spent the 2014 season race riding at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. He fared better in America, riding a career-best 14 winners in 2019. By the summer of 2021 he had won a total of 45 American races.
He was based at Delaware Park but also rode at several neighbouring race tracks, including Laurel, Pimlico, Parx, Penn National, Charles Town, Atlantic City, Meadowlands as well as Monmouth. He spent the 2014 season race riding at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. He fared better in America, riding a career-best 14 winners in 2019. By the summer of 2021 he had won a total of 45 American races.
But his luck ran out in July 2021 when he rode Tua in the final race of the day, a maiden claimer, at Delaware Park. The horse in front, Normalizeddeviance, drifted across her path, Tua clipped heels, stumbled and fell, sending her jockey crashing to the ground.
But his luck ran out in July 2021 when he rode Tua in the final race of the day, a maiden claimer, at Delaware Park. The horse in front, Normalizeddeviance, drifted across her path, Tua clipped heels, stumbled and fell, sending her jockey crashing to the ground.
Vince suffered two brain bleeds and fractures to his back (including a compression fracture of the T7 and fractured C4), fractured neck, shoulder, sternum and elbow. He was rushed to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. Unable to breathe on his own, he spent two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit on a ventilator. He was fighting for his life and for a while it was feared he wouldn’t survive. His condition was compounded when he contracted pneumonia and MRSA.
Vince suffered two brain bleeds and fractures to his back (including a compression fracture of the T7 and fractured C4), fractured neck, shoulder, sternum and elbow. He was rushed to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. Unable to breathe on his own, he spent two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit on a ventilator. He was fighting for his life and for a while it was feared he wouldn’t survive. His condition was compounded when he contracted pneumonia and MRSA.
Once he was off the ventilator and able to breathe unaided, he was moved to the trauma step down unit. His American wife Stephanie Pastore posted a message on social media saying he was steadily progressing apart from being able to swallow so he had a stomach feed tube inserted.
Once he was off the ventilator and able to breathe unaided, he was moved to the trauma step down unit. His American wife Stephanie Pastore posted a message on social media saying he was steadily progressing apart from being able to swallow so he had a stomach feed tube inserted.
Eventually discharged from hospital, he was moved again to acute rehab where doctors worked on his swallowing as well as general physical therapy.
Eventually discharged from hospital, he was moved again to acute rehab where doctors worked on his swallowing as well as general physical therapy.
Although there are still challenges ahead, he has made a miraculous recovery. The stomach tube has been removed and his neck brace consigned to the bin. And just six months after the horror fall that nearly killed him, Vince was back on his riding simulator as he battled his way back to full health.
Although there are still challenges ahead, he has made a miraculous recovery. The stomach tube has been removed and his neck brace consigned to the bin. And just six months after the horror fall that nearly killed him, Vince was back on his riding simulator as he battled his way back to full health.