Quinn makes surprise return
Richard Quinn has been granted a license by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority to return to race riding after an absence of 11 months.
The Classic-winning jockey retired after suffering with a back problem after riding 2,163 winners, the last of which being Young Mick in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Quinn rode the last of Henry Cecil’s 23 Classic winners on Love Divine in the 2000 renewal of the Oaks at Epsom.
“I had a problem in the lumbar area,” Quinn explained to the Racing Post. “I was continually having physio at the racecourse but I still felt uncomfortable in the lumbar area.
“I was told it was just general wear and tear and accepted it but as the year went on it got no better. Going racing was no fun anymore so after Royal Ascot I decided to retire.
“After a month of not riding it was still no better so I went to see the specialist Michael Foy who recommended an MRI scan and that showed that I had two slipped discs. They devised an exercise regime which has fixed the problem.”
Quinn had taken a job as assistant to John Hills with a view to making a move in to training but he has rediscovered his enthusiasm.
“When you are in pain you don’t enjoy things but I feel like I’m 19 again now. I have no pre-conceived ideas of how things will unfold. We will just take things as it comes and hope I get back to riding successfully again,” explained Quinn.
