Champion jockey Darren Beadman "has conceded his riding career could be finished as he struggles to regain his health" following his fall in Hong Kong 4 months ago, reported The Age.
Beadman, 46, "received severe head injuries when a horse collapsed beneath him in a barrier trial at Sha Tin racecourse in February, leaving him with extensive problems relating to brain function, including balance & speech".
Beadman (an 8-time Sydney Premiership Winner) "was due to return to Hong Kong this weekend for further tests after recuperating in Sydney over the past few weeks" & told The South China Morning Post: "It's really happening very slowly. My balance is no better & I'm having a problem with multi-tasking."
Beadman rode many winners for Dynamic when in Sydney
"I'm fine doing one thing at a time; but if I'm trying to do more, or if I get distracted, it's like my brain loses its way. Not riding again isn't the end of the world, but it isn't looking good. And my neurosurgeon says that another head injury & I would be in strife." exclaimed Beadman
Beadman (who has been in Hong Kong for the past 5 seasons) boasts 95 Gr1 winners & "lies 3rd on the list of Australian riders behind George Moore (119) & Roy Higgins (108)".
Beadman often helped Dynamic get to the winners circle
Beadman rode many winners for Dynamic Syndications during his career but the one that made us the biggest headlines was when he piloted the Dynamic Syndications galloper GRAND CAUSE (Giant’s Causeway / Lakab) to an easy 5 length victory in the Harris Farm Welter on Saturday 7 July 2007. It was this ride where Beadman broke his own Australian Racing Record for wins in a season. At the time it was his 153rd win and he went on to finish the 2006/07 season with 168 victories.
Beadman's record breaking win aboard Grand Cause
Beadman was the youngest jockey to ever be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame at the age of 42 in 2007. Beadman retired from riding for two years in 1998-99 to become a Church Preacher but returned in 2000 and took up where he left off, proceeding to dominate the Sydney racing scene. He broke his own record for number of wins in the Sydney metropolitan area in 2006/2007 (168) securing his eighth Sydney Jockey’s Premiership.