Trainer Gerry Keane © Photo Healy Racing
Gerry Keane registered a Galway festival winner today with stable star Laughifuwant under his son champion jockey Colin Keane, and later reflected on a horror 2020 fall from which the trainer is still recovering.
The eight-year-old gelding's previous win came in the 2020 Cambridgeshire and today landed the Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Handicap under another well-judged ride from Keane junior.
Having initially spoken about Laughifuwant, Trim-based Keane, on his feet and in good spirits, said “it was just a stupid, simple fall. A horse jumped off the gallop with me and I knew I was in trouble because I lost all power.
"I bruised my spinal chord and I was in Blanchardstown Hospital for two and a half months and Dun Laoghaire for two and a half months. It was a very scary time. I met a girl in Blanchardstown, Elaine from Ballinrobe, a physio, who brought me a long way and I came out of it on crutches. I then went to Dun Laoghaire and met more good people.
“I'd say I'm 80 or 90 per cent - I'm living a normal life but I can't do anything physical. I'm a farrier by trade but I won't be shoeing anymore. I won't be back on a horse but I wouldn't mind getting up on one again because it was a great aul' thing for keeping you fit.
“I've had so many falls over the year and it was a pure simple thing.”
He added “my daughter Alison was working for Ger Lyons at the time of the fall and Ger sent her home because we pre-train for him. Between her, James Hyland and Frankie Duffy, they ran the place and kept the whole show on the road.
“I came out of hospital two years ago this month. It took me two years to get going again.
“They told me at one stage that I wouldn't walk again as the spinal cord was so badly swollen. Then everything (the swelling) went down but they never tell you how good you'll get. This could be as good as it gets, I don't know, and it's mostly nerve damage which is very slow healing.
“They reckon I've made a miraculous recovery.”
