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'I put my family through hell - but I hope I've repaid them in some small way'
Kieran Shoemark talks about addiction, redemption, loyalty and Lady Bowthorpe
The story of Kieran Shoemark had the potential to become a tragedy. A tragedy of talent wasted, opportunities squandered, youthful promise unfulfilled, or perhaps far, far worse. Racing has had its share of those tales but they become no easier to bear for their familiarity.
'Young man does well, discovers booze, disappears down the pan,' is not a new plot line. Throw in the modern predilection for drugs and you have all the ingredients for something dark and with an unhappy ending.
Which was why the final chapter of last month's Nassau Stakes, with its groundswell of tears, jubilation and communal outpouring, made for such a joyous occasion.
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Published on inInterviews
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Copy- 'It's been ten months since Mark died and I still come back into the house and think he's here'
- 'As soon as Christmas dinner was over my mind would be on Boxing Day and Silviniaco Conti at Kempton'
- 'You're all doom and gloom but you don't know what's been going on, so I hope we can prove you all wrong and shut you all up'
- It's been a quarter of a century since we started - here's how we've seen the sport we love change
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'It's been ten months since Mark died and I still come back into the house and think he's here'
- 'As soon as Christmas dinner was over my mind would be on Boxing Day and Silviniaco Conti at Kempton'
- 'You're all doom and gloom but you don't know what's been going on, so I hope we can prove you all wrong and shut you all up'
- It's been a quarter of a century since we started - here's how we've seen the sport we love change
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'