In the fall of 2014, the Standardbred Canada website ran an article explaining how a horseman with an artificial leg had been licenced to participate in pari-mutuel horse races. Now, the horseman in question has made it into the history books.
In 2014, war veteran Guy Disney received a licence from the British Horseracing Authority to ride in amateur races and ‘point-to-points’ (steeplechase) events.
Disney, the son of a veterinarian that practices within the British racing industry, was forced to have the distal portion of his right leg amputated in 2009 after an armoured vehicle in which he was travelling in Afghanistan was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade.
Last month, Disney, 34, became the first amputee jockey to guide a winner at a professional racecourse in Britain. He reached the feat with Rathlin Rose in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown. Disney and his mount were the 13-8 favourites in the tilt and went on to win the three-mile affair by four and a half lengths.
As an article by the BBC explains, Disney was more than humble when asked about his feat afterward.
"I've been phenomenally lucky," Disney was quoted as saying. "I've been amazingly well looked after – people have had it far worse than I have. Some don't make it back.”
"It's fantastic. He's inspirational to everyone. It puts things into context,” said Rathlin Rose’s trainer, David Pipe.
"I didn't appreciate how big a thing it is. Guy was very excited about it. He was speechless afterwards and just said 'thank you.’"
(With files from the BBC)