Peter Toole
On Grand National Day, Saturday 9 April 2011, Peter jumped aboard trainer Arthur Whiting's 100/1 outsider Classic Fly and, in the company of Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Sam Twiston-Davies made his way down to the start of the Maghull Novices' Chase.
On Grand National Day, Saturday 9 April 2011, Peter jumped aboard trainer Arthur Whiting's 100/1 outsider Classic Fly and, in the company of Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Sam Twiston-Davies made his way down to the start of the Maghull Novices' Chase.
His parents, James and Fidelma, had come over for the weekend to watch him ride, and were in the stands.
His parents, James and Fidelma, had come over for the weekend to watch him ride, and were in the stands.
The young jockey from County Meath was an emerging star of the National Hunt scene who, some 30 months earlier, on 13 November, 2008, at Taunton, had ridden in public for the first time.
The young jockey from County Meath was an emerging star of the National Hunt scene who, some 30 months earlier, on 13 November, 2008, at Taunton, had ridden in public for the first time.
Riding Flight Command in the Peter Joliffe Retirement Handicap Chase, Peter brought the ten-year-old home a convincing 3 length winner.
Riding Flight Command in the Peter Joliffe Retirement Handicap Chase, Peter brought the ten-year-old home a convincing 3 length winner.
But there was to be no such happy outcome on this occasion.
But there was to be no such happy outcome on this occasion.
Classic Fly fell heavily at the very first obstacle, pitching the young jockey out of the saddle. Peter landed head-first on the Aintree turf, his career, in that moment, shattered.
Classic Fly fell heavily at the very first obstacle, pitching the young jockey out of the saddle. Peter landed head-first on the Aintree turf, his career, in that moment, shattered.
He suffered bleeding to the right side of his brain.
He suffered bleeding to the right side of his brain.
That December, recalling the fall, he said 'I remember going to the start and jumping off, but it stops half-way to the first. The next thing I remember is getting wheeled out on the runway to be flown back to Dublin four weeks later.
That December, recalling the fall, he said 'I remember going to the start and jumping off, but it stops half-way to the first. The next thing I remember is getting wheeled out on the runway to be flown back to Dublin four weeks later.
Actually, he came round on Good Friday, 13 days after his fall.
Actually, he came round on Good Friday, 13 days after his fall.
Aintree had found his parents a house, and, for the next month, they put they lives on hold to spend their days at his bedside.
Aintree had found his parents a house, and, for the next month, they put they lives on hold to spend their days at his bedside.
Peter's father, a dairy farmer, was told that it was a serious injury and that they wouldn't know how serious it was until he woke up.
Peter's father, a dairy farmer, was told that it was a serious injury and that they wouldn't know how serious it was until he woke up.
He said ' We knew he bruised his brain and that there was serious bleeding but they had no idea whether he'd be all right, a vegetable or whether he would even come round at all. It was all scary stuff and for a long time we were in limbo-land. When he did come round, I couldn't tell you what he said - it's unprintable.'
He said ' We knew he bruised his brain and that there was serious bleeding but they had no idea whether he'd be all right, a vegetable or whether he would even come round at all. It was all scary stuff and for a long time we were in limbo-land. When he did come round, I couldn't tell you what he said - it's unprintable.'
Peter became a resident of the Injured Jockeys Fund rehabilitation facility, Oaksey House, in Lambourn.
Peter became a resident of the Injured Jockeys Fund rehabilitation facility, Oaksey House, in Lambourn.
A Facebook group called Get Well Peter Toole was set up with more than 3,000 people joining to wish him well.
A Facebook group called Get Well Peter Toole was set up with more than 3,000 people joining to wish him well.
Peter recalled 'the amount of support was unbelievable. The amount of cards was uncountable. The basket at my mother's house was overflowing.'
Peter recalled 'the amount of support was unbelievable. The amount of cards was uncountable. The basket at my mother's house was overflowing.'
Peter eventually recovered virtually all of his previous powers, albeit some of them at a slightly reduced speed. He then returned to his home in Ireland.
Peter eventually recovered virtually all of his previous powers, albeit some of them at a slightly reduced speed. He then returned to his home in Ireland.
Peter took the decision not to reapply for his licence. He admitted that he had no idea what might happen next back in Ireland.
Peter took the decision not to reapply for his licence. He admitted that he had no idea what might happen next back in Ireland.
'The future could hold anything,' he said.
'The future could hold anything,' he said.
From a total of 620 rides, Peter won 61 times. His best victory came on Fine Parchment in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.
From a total of 620 rides, Peter won 61 times. His best victory came on Fine Parchment in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.
Message of support
Message of support
"I hope when you're feeling better Peter, you get to see and read these messages of support. You won't know many of us and you certainly won't know me. But what you will know is that there are lots of ordinary folk, like me, sitting at home or at work anticipating every positive bulletin that is released and desperately wanting to see you recover fully and enjoy life. You and your fellow jockeys give so much for our entertainment."
"I hope when you're feeling better Peter, you get to see and read these messages of support. You won't know many of us and you certainly won't know me. But what you will know is that there are lots of ordinary folk, like me, sitting at home or at work anticipating every positive bulletin that is released and desperately wanting to see you recover fully and enjoy life. You and your fellow jockeys give so much for our entertainment."