Is enough being done to help jockeys avoid the pitfalls of cocaine?

First published in the Racing Post Weekender on September 11, 2019

The thorny topic of jockeys and cocaine never wavers far from the news agenda. If it's not another rider receiving a suspension, then it's one returning to action following an enforced absence.

At Haydock on Saturday, Callum Rodriguez was the latest to come back with a determination to learn from his mistake and repair a tarnished reputation.

Delving into Rodriguez's case serves to highlight how big the issue of cocaine use among jockeys really is. He was one of two riders to return a positive test on the very same day at Southwell last February, with Kevin Lundie the other.

More jockeys have since followed and they are just the ones to have been caught breaking racing's rules and the law of the land.

It begs the question of whether enough is being done to raise awareness of the pitfalls of cocaine use among jockeys.

In recent years, giant strides have been made to improve jockey welfare - both mental and physical - yet there's clearly more to be done.

People will rightly point to the rise of cocaine use as a societal problem that racing has only so much control over. It's also an issue that affects athletes in other sports.

But are jockeys fully aware of the consequences of their actions and do they know where to turn for support should they need it?

KieranShoemark, another jockey suspended for a positive cocaine test, has spoken candidly about his alcohol addiction and how a bad injury sent him on a downward spiral. He should be applauded for his honesty and openness. His plight should act as a warning to others.

Each individual case is different and it might have been a shock to learn that Shoemark described being informed of his positive sample as a relief. It meant his problems were out in the open and he could start to deal with them. Rodriguez, on the other hand, said his actions were a one-off and completely out of character.

As he sets out on rebuilding his career, he can draw encouragement from Shoemark's smooth transition back to race-riding.

Through a new link-up with Charlie Hills, Shoemark has managed to re-establish himself with more than 20 winners since his comeback in June.

Before his six-month suspension, Rodriguez had been in good form during the winter's all-weather championships. Sitting out the main part of the season must have been hard. He had plenty of time to stew on his misdemeanour and missing rides and winners would have gnawed away at him.

However, he has tried to turn a negative into a positive by spending the time working to improve his fitness and nutrition through visits to Jack Berry House and Liverpool John Moores University.

Rodriguez reached national schoolboy level as a boxer before deciding racing was his preferred sport, so he shouldn't lack fighting spirit.

His talent has never been questioned either. His memorable victory on Nakeeta in the 2017 Ebor as a 5lb claimer showed he possesses the requisite skills for the big occasion. He is now a fully fledged professional with more than 130 winners.

Crucially, Rodriguez has the backing to get back to where he was. His boss Michael Dods pledged his support not long after the suspension was made public and the jockey has also been going into Keith Dalgleish's yard one day a week.

Like other high-profile jockeys who have made the same mistake, hopefully Rodriguez will grasp his second chance and be able to look back at this time in his life as a bump in the road during a long and successful career.

The Racing Post Weekender is out every Wednesday - get the digital edition here