Racehorse TALK

Adrian Dunn

June 29, 2009 12:00am
FLEMINGTON holds special memories for David Taggart. He won back-to-back Emirates Stakes on Seascay, first for David Hayes, then for Peter Hayes.

He rode Unspoken Word for Bart Cummings to win the 1992 Gadsden Stakes, now the Salinger.

And Taggart's biggest success - the 2004 VRC Oaks on Hollow Bullet - was also at Flemington.

Taggart returned to Flemington on Saturday for the first time since 2007.

He was a guest as part of the National Jockey Celebration Day, which commemorates the 312 jockeys who have lost their lives on Australian racetracks.

It raises awareness and funds for the National Jockeys' Trust for those like Taggart, who suffered career-ending injuries at Stony Creek on March 27, 2007.

It was an emotional roller-coaster for Taggart, 34, who found the day depressing and also uplifting.

While talking to Colin Little and Ross, Margaret and Clinton McDonald brought back memories of the glory days, reality is quickly evident.

Taggart presented a whip to Luke Nolen, the winning jockey in the National Jockey Celebration Day Victoria Plate, but he required a seat during the pre-amble.

He can only bear weight for five or 10 minutes. Mostly, he spends time on his couch, watching TVN.

"I'm a couch potato," Taggart said. "If it wasn't for my little daughter, Grace, and my wife, Tara, I don't know where I would be."

The trip from East Gippsland to Flemington was an ordeal. Taggart said he would be in no condition to return that night.

He tries to mask the pain he endures daily by saying: "I'm a walking chemist. Putting on my shoes to get here (Flemington) was a struggle. Normally, I just wear flip flops to get around.

"My ankles look like ankles of an old lady."

Taggart acknowledged he was lucky to save his left ankle after the fall. It has been fused, a fate that awaits his right ankle.

Taggart wasn't sure how many operations he had had, estimating eight or nine.

It's a sad postscript to a 15-year career that still had many kilometres on the clock.

"It's hard to say it's part of the job, but that's the risk we are taking," Taggart said.

"You never think it's ever going to happen to you, but the reality is it can. Look at me. I'm in pain 24/7, but there's a lot of people worse off."