Years After Being Dubbed the ‘Luckiest Man Alive,’ Top Irish Jockey Steps Into a New Role in the Equestrian World

The riveting saga of horse racing is often entwined with unexpected moments where destiny is decided by thundering hooves. For the 34-year-old racer, Brian Tommey, life has been a page-turner drawing parallels with a scene from a blockbuster! His miraculous journey from a perilous fall to swapping his jockey’s cap for a strainer’s whistle promises a new chapter of his life filled with equine tales. Buckle up to witness Toomey’s rollercoaster journey on the race course, taking up new roles in the Equestrian world.

Return to the horse racing saddle, Toomey overcomes all obstacles

The former top Irish jockey faced predicaments when he closely viewed death while having a spine-chilling fall in 2013 at Perth Racecourse that left him clinically dead for seven seconds. Even though the doctors pronounced him having only a three percent chance of survival in an induced coma, he defied all odds to make a comeback in horse racing in just two years.

Sharing his views with the Off Ally Express, Toomey expressed his gratitude of receiving a second chance to live his life, “When you look at the pictures, the scan of my skull and brain, it’s scary to think what I have been through, like. I am the luckiest man alive, to be honest with you. I genuinely don’t think I have any after effects. I actually wouldn’t have a clue that what happened to me actually happened. It’s crazy to believe, to be fair.”

He spent 157 days in the hospital after undergoing a near-fatal accident. However, his unwavering spirit was not compromised. Following his return to his hobby of horse racing and with over 70 winners to his credit in the UK, Toomey enjoyed every moment in the saddle but had set his standards higher. 

Sports community propels Toomey to embark on a new journey 

The rider made a revolutionary decision to try his luck in a completely new area of training horses. Hence, he bid farewell to his career as a jump jockey and embarked on a new adventure as a trainer. 

Read More: “Pleasure to Be Riding Here”: After Achieving Rare Horse Racing Feat, $211,864,594 Worth Young Jockey Shares Heartfelt Note

Toomey even gave a glimpse of the risk factors associated with horse riding, “I had to re-sit my driving test the year after my injury. You have a 25% chance of having a car crash. We get paid to do our hobby (ride horses), we call it our hobby, but there is a dangerous side to it and racing horses is dangerous. They say we get a fall every 1 in 10 races on average, that is what the stat is.”

Even though precariousness runs high within his chosen profession, Toomey embarks on his new adventure, taking strength from the well-wishes he received from the sports community, including renowned figures like Limerick’s All-Ireland winning hurlers, rugby players of the Irish team and members of Munster. 

Brian Toomey has his eyes fixated on embracing what this new journey in horse racing throws at him. His story will continue to inspire everyone, emerging as a symbol of resilience, dodging death as the top jockey and taking up the role of a trainer, the race is never truly over, only the course is different. 

Watch This Story: Rodeo Fans Thrilled as Horse Riding Champion Banks $1.5 Million Victory