Two weeks after his dramatic race fall at Kranji, injured apprentice jockey Kif Toh was discharged from hospital this morning, but will be facing up to six months on the sidelines before he can get back in the saddle.
The popular young man hit the deck after his mount Sir Fleetwood suddenly fell just before the home turn in an 1100m race on Polytrack on June 6.
Transported to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital shortly after, Toh was, upon scanning, diagnosed with spinal fractures, namely at the T7 and T8 vertebrae, two broken ribs and minor cracks to the neck area.
Toh was two days later transferred to Singapore General Hospital where he underwent surgery on his spine last Thursday, during which his orthopaedic surgeon inserted a metal plate and screws to treat the affected vertebrae.
While some jockeys may end up as paraplegic or even die from such falls, Toh is among the lucky ones to have walked away from it with non-life-threatening injuries, which are understood to be at this stage not career-threatening either.
After being cleared by his doctor to go home and recuperate, Toh said he was still feeling sore, especially in the upper torso area, but was first and foremost grateful he did not suffer worse injuries.
“I watched the video of the race many times, but all I can remember is being in between horses before the fall happened,” said the 26-year-old rookie who only began his budding riding career at the end of March.
“In racing, anything can happen in one second. I really don’t remember anything after that and I think I was in a coma because the next thing I know, I woke up in a hospital.”
Toh revealed he was not at his first horse-riding fall, and though it was another wake-up call about the many dangers lurking in this trade, the incident had not scarred him mentally. But it did blow to pieces the fairytale start he had enjoyed in the short time he has been donning racing silks.
“It’s disappointing as I was doing very well and then this thing happened,” said Toh, who even rode a double with State Trooper and Paterson Road a few hours before he was hurt.
“These are the ups and downs of racing, I guess, and I just have to accept they form part of the game.
“It’s actually the second time I am badly injured with horses. When I was still learning how to ride, a horse I rode in a barrier trial had a heart attack and fell, and I suffered some internal rib injuries.
“But that latest fall was more serious and I actually consider myself lucky I was not more seriously injured. My doctor also said I was lucky as I could have been paralysed.
“This is my job now, and I love it even if it can be dangerous. I hope I can get back to riding as soon as possible.”
Unheralded before his first ride aboard Leave Me Alone on March 21 – which he incidentally won - Toh had skyrocketed through the log with winner after another until the unfortunate accident cruelly stalled the meteoric rise. The riding double Toh bagged on that fateful day had brought his tally up to 11 wins, only six behind current leader Noh Senari at the time, a score which had given the Yishun boy realistic dreams on the ultimate prize, being just before the halfway mark in the season.
“I was actually starting to think about the championship, but it’s all over now. It’ll be for next year, I hope,” he said wistfully.
"I’ll go home and rest now. I will start doing some physiotherapy and I hope to be back riding sooner than the six months the doctor said I would need.
"My boss Michael Clements has given me full support during these difficult times. Even though he was busy, he visited me during my first days at the hospital and sent me to surgery.
“My parents and my elder brother will look after me now. In the meantime, I hope not to get too bored at home, and will continue watching the races on TV and do my homework.
“I spoke to Mr Clements and he told me to come back and help out at the stables whenever I feel fit enough. After that, I hope to be back riding as soon as possible.”
