THREE-time Southern District premiership-winning jockey John Kissick has vowed to return to the saddle.
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Kissick faces four to six months on the sidelines after suffering a badly broken leg on Wagga Town Plate day last Thursday.
Kissick was behind the barriers aboard Best Not Say when he was stuck by a horse kicking out. The sheer force sent the bone through the skin and the 29-year-old was transferred to Wagga Base Hospital with a break in four places.
The broken leg is the latest in a shocking run of injuries for Kissick, who only returned to race-riding 12 months ago after more than three years on the sidelines with a broken back.
Kissick remains upbeat however and is determined not to let the latest injury end his career.
"I'll be back for sure," Kissick said.
"It's part of the game as you know, injuries in sport. I'm a bit unlucky but at least I have an income this time.
"It's part of the game isn't it, what do you do?"
The severity of the broken leg did not allow a rod to be placed but doctors were able to plate it with a few screws on Friday.
Kissick is not allowed to put any weight on his leg for four to six weeks, when he hopes to be able to begin physiotherapy.
"The doctors say in four to six months I should be back riding," he said.
"It's a waiting game for the moment, until I get my boot off, then I can start physio."
COVID-19 interrupted Kissick's comeback at times, given his Wangaratta base, but he was still able to ride 29 winners in his first year back in the saddle and registered the 400th win of his career.
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A STRONG field has been assembled for the inaugural Albury Sprint Classic on Friday.
Albury Racing Club have introduced a new feature sprint in a bid to liven up what is traditionally a quieter time on the border.
The $25,000 Albury Sprint Classic (1000m) will see the likes of Bombdiggity, Real Key, Mr Moppett, The Unknown Factor and Dream Master clash.
Real Key will have his first start for Wagga trainer Graham Byatt. The former Trevor Sutherland-trained galloper was a victim of differing city and country ratings last week after being balloted out of the Town Plate with a revised city rating, then getting 67.5 kilograms for the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) on Cup day.
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VISITING Sydney jockey Jason Collett picked up the only suspension of the Wagga Gold Cup carnival.
Collett was suspended for careless riding aboard Go Troppo in the MTC Guineas, where he shifted in when insufficiently clear of Island Bay Boy. He was suspended from Sunday, May 9 to Saturday May 15.
Nash Rawiller was also fined $600 for his whip use on Spirit Ridge when dead heating for second in the Wagga Gold Cup. Rawiller was found to have used his whip on nine occasions prior to the 100m mark.
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ALBURY trainer Mitch Beer copped a couple of bad barriers at Rosehill on Saturday.
Beer accepted with both Swagger and Power Me Up in the $75,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1500m).
Beer immediately scratched Power Me Up after drawing 18, while Swagger is still likely to go despite fairing only marginally better in barrier 15.
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WAGGA apprentice jockey Josh Richards is going from strength-to-strength in his time in Victoria.
Richards enjoyed another winner on Wednesday, guiding Aquagirl to victory at Pakenham for Phillip Stokes.
It comes after a win at Echuca on Monday for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team, and before that a winning treble at Cranbourne on April 30 and a winning double at Wangaratta the day before.
The move to Mick Kent has allowed him to utilise his three kilogram provincial claim and he is getting a lot of support.
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STACEY Metcalfe's strong start to her time in Adelaide has come to a halt.
The former Wagga apprentice felt the wrath of South Australian stewards last week for a ride at Murray Bridge.
Metcalfe copped a two-month suspension for failing to ride her mount, Exalted Maxine, out to the line in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m), which was a heat of the national apprentice series.
Metcalfe went to the lead on Exalted Maxine and opened up a seven-length lead approaching the 600-metre mark. The $14 chance maintained a handy lead for the majority of the straight before beginning to tire over the final 100m.
Metcalfe appeared to ease up on Exalted Maxine over the final 100m, before urging the horse on again in the shadows of the post, when eventual winner Bolt I Am made a late charge.
She pled guilty to the charge after going down by a nose.
It was an unfortunate occurrence for Metcalfe, who has ridden 23 winners since moving to South Australia last December.
She is free to ride again on July 12.
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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club will conduct non-raceday barrier trials next Wednesday, May 19.
The trials will be held on the Wagga Riveriside track, providing there are enough nominations.
As a result, there will be no raceday trials at Albury's next two race meetings on Friday, May 14, and May 24.
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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club has also made a couple of major changes to their calendar.
The hugely-popular Kurrajong raceday has been moved from it's traditional late May timeslot and thrust into the middle of the spring carnival.
It will now be held on Everest day, Saturday October 16 where the club is confident the charity raceday will only continue to grow in popularity.
Moving to May in it's place is Ladie's Day.
There will be free entry for ladies at the Saturday May 29 meeting, with prizes to be won throughout the day.
The MTC is also offering tables in a garden party precinct, where $150 will get you a reserved table for six trackside, two bottled of sparkling wine and a picnic grazing box for six.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Friday: Albury (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Tuesday: Leeton (TAB)
DOGS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Saturday: Young (non-TAB)