Trainer Karen McLintock opens up about mental health after road accident trauma

Trainer Karen McLintock has cut back her string significantly and made four members of staff redundant following mental health problems stemming from the road accident she was involved in leaving Market Rasen last March, which cost seven-time winner Rockwood his life.

McLintock, who credits stable star Dubawi Fifty and the support of friends and owners for helping her through the worst of times, said: "Since the accident last March I've not slept properly, and I've felt sick and anxious and found it hard to concentrate. There are no days off in this job, and while I love it and I've had so many good times, the highs are very high but the lows are very low.

"Every morning I've been waking up anxious, worrying how I was going to get myself through the day, and I'm a nervous traveller too now as there's never been proper closure from the accident.

"It was my birthday that day, and we'd just come off our best year when we had 20 winners on the Flat and a few more over jumps as well. My life couldn't have been better, but since then I've struggled to keep myself going."

The low of Dubawi Fifty's head defeat at the hands of Who Dares Wins in last year's Northumberland Plate – on his first appearance since the previous year's Royal Ascot second to Lagostovegas – came little more than two months after the trauma of the road accident, and had the result gone the other way it might have provided just the lift that was needed.

Later in the year there was another racecourse low when Grey Mist, unbeaten in five races for the stable, broke down.

Dubawi Fifty (near side) suffers close defeat to Who Dares Wins in the Northumberland PlateCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

McLintock said: "I think that if it hadn't been for Dubawi Fifty going for the Plate I might have chucked it in after the accident. He kept me going and the roar from the crowd when he took it up made it all seem worthwhile, but then of course Who Dares Wins came and beat him. I can't bear to watch it again.

"I didn't run Grey Mist for 13 months after buying him from Tim Easterby for £6,500 and then when we ran him he won his first five races, hurdles and Flat. He was a bit of a star too, but then he broke down at Wolverhampton before Christmas and I don't think he'll be racing again now."

McLintock, who owned the subsequent Champion Chase winner Call Equiname before his sale to Paul Barber, was on the point of giving up training at the end of last year, but had second thoughts. She has been seeing a therapist and is happier now, operating on a reduced scale for the time being.

Grey Mist: won his first five starts for Karen McLintock before breaking down at Wolverhampton in DecemberCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

She said: "I was half thinking of not renewing my licence at the end of last month as I couldn't see myself going on, but instead I cut back on my horses and made my five staff redundant.

"I'm down to five horses now, which I'm doing with Charlotte Crozier, who I re-employed and has been a rock, plus two self-employed part-timers. I felt terrible telling the staff and owners, and I made sure they all found out from me on the same day, but it was a relief when the pressure was lifted and I had less to think about."

She added: "I'm glad I didn't pack it all in and I was overwhelmed by the support I've had from my owners and the other people I've told. I've been humbled by people's kindness.

"The staff who were made redundant have been re-employed in racing and the horses have been dispersed to other trainers or else are resting. I'm feeling more optimistic now I've just got a handful of horses, and I'm moving forward slowly."

Dubawi Fifty, who is owned by Paul and Clare Rooney, will be prepared for another crack at the Northumberland Plate this year, with just one run beforehand. McLintock also has high hopes of 130-rated hurdler Weather Front, who was beaten a short head at Wetherby at the start of February.

She said: "Dubawi Fifty is having a break now and the ones I have in have just scoped dirty. I won't have a runner for a while, but I feel as if I'm getting my mojo back."

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