Harding's rehabilitation begins

Champion South Australian harness racing reinsman David Harding will not drive again this season following a horrific fall at Globe Derby Park.

Harding suffered serious injuries when his drive, the first-starter Bull Market, crashed to the track with about 300 metres left to run in the Patterson’s Hardware Three-Year-Old Pace (1800m).

During the accident, Harding could be seen standing upright before falling and then clutching his left leg. Bull Market, the $3 favourite, was racing outside the leader and eventual winner Magic Too ($3.90) driven by Danielle Hill, Harding’s partner.

Hill said that Harding had suffered a dislocated left hip, a fracture in the hip, and two fractures in his right ankle.

“David has been told his right ankle will be in a moon boot for around 12 weeks,” Hill said.

“Because his hip was dislocated and not put back until about three hours after the accident, it will also be a wait and see situation as to how quickly it heals. Apparently the sooner a hip can be replaced the better it heals because there is less damage to nerves and muscles.”

Hill said Harding had been in great pain and was still very uncomfortable a week after the accident.

In good news, Harding did go home only two days after the accident and was already working on his rehabilitation.

“He gets up several times a day and can only walk with the aid of a frame. He never goes far and it is still painful but he knows it has to be done.”

Hill said it was inappropriate to discuss whether the premier reinsman would return to driving.

“Now is not the time to think about that (driving again), his, and our main focus, is on getting him healthy again.

“There will be plenty of time when he recovers to make a decision about the future.”

Hill knows what her partner is going through. She was badly hurt, and lost an eye, in a race fall at Globe Derby Park in May 2010, so she understands the emotions while recovering.

The talented reinswoman made a magnificent return to driving and drove 94 and 91 winners in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons and currently sits on 90 winners this season and looks certain to crack the 100 mark.

“I still have to battle hard mentally at times when driving, and obviously David’s fall, has hit me hard.”

Hill’s battle is evident when she drives the promising Nevabendrules which scored at Globe Derby Park last Friday night.

The big horse can be chancy at the gates and has had a tendency to race keenly, and on Friday night, he was reluctant to score up early in the Nevele R Stud Pace (1800m).

“He is probably not the right horse for me to be driving but I challenge myself and I think he might be improving,” Hill said

“He was a bit rough early but got into a pace early enough to catch the field by the start but the best thing was that he raced a lot more tractably in the field.”

Hill took off early with the $2.50 favourite and he settled outside the lead, star three-year-old filly Whats Emma Got ($2.80) with a lap to go and the pair staged a two-horse battle over the final 800 metres.

The younger horse held off the repeated surges by Nevabendrules during the last lap but over the last 20 metres, Whats Emma Got had had enough and the older gelding stuck his head in front right on the line.

Leah Harvey, who drove Whats Emma Got, said the filly expended everything.

“I thought she was going to win but 20 metres out she had given her all and her head dropped and the other horse stuck his head out,” Harvey said.

Owner and co-trainer Sharon Newman said she was proud of Whats Emma Got and now would held to Mildura for a Vicbred race.

Harding’s injury has also affected his father Les Harding who trains a team at Globe Derby Park.

“I’m not as agile as I was and David was a key part of our operation so with him not being able to help for quite some time I’m going to cut back my team,” Harding said.

One horse who has already left the stable is the veteran pacer Dartmoor.

“I sent him home to Victoria after his last start win and told the owner to retire him.

“After all he is 13, has done an amazing job, and you could see he was starting to feel his legs. He deserves a good retirement.”

by Graham Fischer