'I'm definitely ahead of schedule' - Jim Crowley sets return date target after horror fall at York

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Former champion jockey Jim Crowley has provided an upbeat bulletin after what he described as the worst fall of his career in September, and is confident he will be back for the start of the Flat turf season in the spring.   

The 47-year-old jockey, who was crowned champion in 2016, suffered fractures to his tibia, fibula and his pelvis, as well as suffering internal bleeding when his mount, Almeraq, took a heavy fall after clipping heels in the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York on September 7.

Crowley, who left Leeds General Infirmary on September 22, continues his rehab with the support of the Injured Jockey Fund's Oaksey House in Lambourn and has his sights fixed firmly on the start of the new season. 

"Everything is going well," said Crowley. "It's a slow old job but Oaksey House was fantastic. They got me in the pool and got me going on the bike and things like that.

"I'll head back there in the new year just to step it up a level. Today I was walking for the first time without crutches just at home and I'm definitely ahead of schedule.

"I'm not in a huge rush to get back for anything, as long as I'm back for the start of the Flat. That's my goal and, if it comes before then, it comes before, but being back for the start of the Flat is realistic."

Jim Crowley: "Everything is going well"Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The father of three from West Sussex spent two months going between his bed and wheelchair at the start of his rehab but, despite getting more than he bargained for when he checked his weight, has seen a big improvement in his mobility in recent weeks.

"I've put on a stone," Crowley told Racing TV on Friday. "I committed the cardinal sin and jumped on the weighing scales the other day and got a bit of a shock because I was back to my jumping weight, but everything is going well and I've noticed a big turnaround in my rehab and getting better in the last couple of weeks."

Expanding on the incident that left him with multiple fractures and weighing-room colleague Trevor Whelan with a complex ankle fracture after his mount Tiger Bay was brought down at York, Crowley added: "I snapped my tib and fib and broke my pelvis in two places, which both had to be operated on. My leg had to have a rod put through it from top to bottom with screws, and they did a great job with that.

"My pelvis had to be plated with nine screws and there was plenty going on, but they did a great job. Funnily enough, the surgeon who put me back together said I'd probably be a lot straighter after I've healed than I was when I came in. 

"I can remember everything and was aware of the internal bleeding, so I was able to notify them of that and the doctors at York were fantastic. It's not something I'd like to repeat but that's part and parcel of racing."

Read these next:

'I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll be back' - Jim Crowley vows to return to saddle next year following horror fall 

Jim Crowley recovering from surgery after sustaining a pelvic and leg fracture in heavy fall 

Trevor Whelan breaks leg in three places and Jim Crowley also taken to hospital after frightening mid-race incident at York 

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