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Not every day a 33-year-old requires hip replacement surgery, but for jockey Daniel Northey, the decision to go under the knife has given him a new lease on life.
After he was involved in a trackwork fall at Scone in late 2017, where a horse fell on him, leading to pelvic fractures and other injuries, Northey battled chronic arthritis in his hip.
“I had a bad fall at Scone; I busted my pelvis and severed my bladder, and I was out for a good while,” Northey said.
“Since then, I have had some issues, and the wear and tear of the hip just caught up with me, with arthritis and the pain, and I needed a hip replacement.
“I was struggling to get off and on horses, and I thought it was time to go and get it checked, and I’m glad I did.”
After the surgery last year, the Muswellbrook jockey admitted there were some trying moments during his recovery, but he’s toughed it out, is feeling 100% better, and is enjoying being back in the saddle.
“I am pretty young for a hip replacement, and there was a question mark beside it, but I had no choice to get it done, and I’m glad I did,” Northey said.
“Because I’m light and was fit, it made it a lot easier, and I spent a lot of time in the pool with rehab, and it was a long process getting back in the saddle, but I was able to come back.
“The first couple of days were a bit iffy, but once I got used to it, I was right, and altogether, it probably took me three months to get back.”
Northey will have to get his opposite hip replaced down the line, and he only wishes he got the surgery done earlier.
“I was dealing with a few things for a while, and I probably should have got it done three or four years ago, and that’s how long I was putting up with pain,” Northey said.
After his last ride at Quirindi in March 2022, Northey spent a total of 14 months out of the saddle but finally returned to racing at Dubbo back in May.
He chose to ease his way back into the riding ranks and thanked Racing NSW for the ongoing support.
“I’ve just been picking and choosing where I was going and taking one or two rides here and there to build my fitness up,” Northey said.
“There’s always that question in the back of your mind whether you will come back as good, and when I came back, I felt good doing trackwork and did a few trials, and it helps that Racing NSW was good the whole way through.
“I can’t fault them; from the day it happened to the surgery and coming back, they have been really good.”
It took Northey 14 rides to get back in the winner’s circle, and that moment arrived at Quirindi on Tuesday when he won aboard the John Ramsey-trained Seeni.
It was a good ride in the 1200m Maiden Plate, and Northey was just happy to land a winner for Ramsey and connections.
“It was a bit of a thrill,” Northey said.
“You can lose your name pretty quick when you have been out of the saddle for more than 12 months, and it was just good to get that first win.
“Plus, John has been good to us and is one of our biggest supporters, so it was good to get it for him.”
Based in Muswellbrook, Northey’s partner is trainer Cassandra Stummer, who has about 30 gallopers in work.
The pair hope to bring up a winner this weekend, racing Kimo at Mendooran on Saturday and Be Alive and Promised at Moree on Sunday.
With a win under his belt and regular rides ahead of him, Northey also believes he is in a position to start taking more opportunities.
“We’re going to head out to Mendooran on Saturday and Moree on Sunday, and I’m starting to get into it a bit more, and we’ll see how things go over the next little bit,” Northey said.
For Quirindi results, click here.
For Mendooran nominations, click here.
For Moree nominations, click here.
