Teenage jockey hailed for brilliant recovery on way to riding first winner
A teenage rider has been praised for a “fantastic” recovery in which she stopped herself from falling off and then went on to win her first race under rules at Hereford on Monday.
Amateur Heidi Palin, 19, was nearly down and out when her mount, the Dan Skelton-trained Bennys King pecked on landing after the third fence.
Her right leg came out of the stirrup leaving her with both legs on one side of the horse. She managed to get her leg back over the saddle in a matter of strides and then completed a clear round to defeat Paul Nicholls’s daughter Olive, on Magic Saint, in the hunter chase.
Sky Sports Racing presenter and former jockey Josh Apiafi remarked: “It was unbelievable the way she sat after a mistake early on in the race. She had both legs one side of the horse and eventually has come through and given a fantastic ride.”
Reviewing the incident, he said: “I’ve never seen a sit like it. I’d have definitely fallen off. He stands off and takes a trip, and look at that!
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“Both legs one side of the saddle. She gets it back as if nothing has happened, foot straight back in the stirrup and away we go. What a red letter day for Heidi Palin.”
Heidi Palin is heading out of the saddle after Benny's Oscar stumbles on landing (Sky Sports)Palin said afterwards: “I thought I was coming off to be honest. After that he travelled through the race nicely. I kept him going, started niggling him on the second circuit and he galloped on well.
“I knew he would keep going. Harry [Skelton] told me to keep getting after him and he would keep going and he did.”
Palin has ridden three point-to-point winners and Bennys King was only her third ride on a racecourse.
Skelton said: “Heidi is a very dedicated girl. She tries very hard at home. She does a lot of work in the gym and no doubt that contributed to her staying on.
“She’s a really good girl from a showjumping and hunting background. Hopefully she will keep getting better and we’ll keep giving her opportunities.”
He added: “These young riders deserve their chance. We have a few other young riders at home who if they keep going the right way they will get their chance as well. We started Tristan Durrell off last year in hunter chases and he’s improved a lot this year.”
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