- More
'I was lying in hospital and said to myself this is probably going to be it' - amateur rider hoping for champagne York moment
From lying in Leeds General Infirmary fearing it was all over to finally winning her body weight in champagne — Becky Smith hopes to complete a remarkable journey at York on Saturday.
The former women's amateur champion has been trying to win the Queen Mother's Cup and its unique prize for 13 years. But it took eight months of arduous rehabilitation to earn another chance.
Smith, 37, suffered a fracture and a posterior dislocation of her hip in a fall at Wetherby last October and she recalled on Friday: "Looking at the scans the hip joint looked like the windscreen on a car that had been in a crash."
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- A Haydock contest jam-packed with last-time-out winners and an all-weather hat-trick seeker - punting pointers for Wednesday's racing
- 7.10 Kempton: course-and-distance winner Roi De France has obvious chance to show just how good he is
- 12.15 Southwell: 'We expect him to go close' - analysis and essential trainer quotes for tight-looking handicap chase
- Punting pointers for Tuesday's four meetings - including an intriguing debutant at Newcastle
- 7.30 Wolverhampton: can Harvanna make winning start for course king Mick Appleby? Analysis and trainer quotes
- A Haydock contest jam-packed with last-time-out winners and an all-weather hat-trick seeker - punting pointers for Wednesday's racing
- 7.10 Kempton: course-and-distance winner Roi De France has obvious chance to show just how good he is
- 12.15 Southwell: 'We expect him to go close' - analysis and essential trainer quotes for tight-looking handicap chase
- Punting pointers for Tuesday's four meetings - including an intriguing debutant at Newcastle
- 7.30 Wolverhampton: can Harvanna make winning start for course king Mick Appleby? Analysis and trainer quotes