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326-IM-0035-0003
Title
John Bullock Being Led in on Highcrest
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- 1958-11-20 (Creation)
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The Times of Ceylon Press
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The man who wouldn't be a write-off kept a promise yesterday—to the nurses of a hospital. Six months ago doctors told Steeplechase jockey John Bullock, 38: "Your riding career is over. This is the end."
Earlier that day at Stratford-on-Abon, Warwickshire, John's mount crashed him into the rails. His left leg was badly torn and five bones in his foot were broken. But as the doctors left the ward in the town's general hospital, John looked at the nurses and smiled. "Don't look so gloomy", he told them. "They can't write me off, I'll be back yet—and I'll ride a winner just for you."
Week after week as John lay in the hospital, he kept telling the nurses: "Don't forget my winner, it's a promise. I can see you don't believe me, but you'll be there to watch me win." Then John left the hospital and the promise was forgotten by the nurses until the other day when a car pulled up at the hospital and out stepped John. He walked without a limp. "I have come to keep that promise," he told the nurses.
An hour later Sister Mary Neary and Staff Nurse Mary Gunn were in the Member's Enclosure at Stratford racecourse. There they saw John win the first race on High Crest at odds 9—2. It was his first mount since the accident.
"It seems like a miracle" said Sister Neary. John said afterwards: "I felt I owed it to the nurses for being so kind to me. He added: "I have broken nearly every bone in my body in racing accidents. Now people are calling me the 'Come-back-Man' of the track."
Picture shows Jockey John Bullock being led in on Highcrest after winning the first race at Stratford.
Earlier that day at Stratford-on-Abon, Warwickshire, John's mount crashed him into the rails. His left leg was badly torn and five bones in his foot were broken. But as the doctors left the ward in the town's general hospital, John looked at the nurses and smiled. "Don't look so gloomy", he told them. "They can't write me off, I'll be back yet—and I'll ride a winner just for you."
Week after week as John lay in the hospital, he kept telling the nurses: "Don't forget my winner, it's a promise. I can see you don't believe me, but you'll be there to watch me win." Then John left the hospital and the promise was forgotten by the nurses until the other day when a car pulled up at the hospital and out stepped John. He walked without a limp. "I have come to keep that promise," he told the nurses.
An hour later Sister Mary Neary and Staff Nurse Mary Gunn were in the Member's Enclosure at Stratford racecourse. There they saw John win the first race on High Crest at odds 9—2. It was his first mount since the accident.
"It seems like a miracle" said Sister Neary. John said afterwards: "I felt I owed it to the nurses for being so kind to me. He added: "I have broken nearly every bone in my body in racing accidents. Now people are calling me the 'Come-back-Man' of the track."
Picture shows Jockey John Bullock being led in on Highcrest after winning the first race at Stratford.
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- The Times of Ceylon Press (Creator)
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25.8 MiB
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May 25, 2015 8:57 PM