Episode 364: Brooke Stower

Despite missing the first month of the current racing season, Brooke Stower finds herself in 15th spot on the NSW jockey’s premiership ladder with over three months to go. Brooke spent a full year on the sidelines after a freakish accident at Grafton in 2020. Her comeback has been one of the best racing stories in recent years. We talk to the Tamworth based jockey about the endless miles she travels to bush meetings. The young jockey fondly remembers the winning double at Grafton last year which catapulted her back into the winner’s circle. Brooke talks of her Toowoomba based family and their passion for the campdrafting sport. She also highlights the career of uncle Michael Boyce Jnr, a former jockey who won two races on a champion NZ galloper. The twenty eight year old reflects on her apprenticeship to Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears.   She explains that Tony wasn’t the trainer of her very first winner. She had to drive seven hours to Cunnamulla to achieve that feat.   The jockey pays tribute to a couple of special horses she got to ride during her time with the Sears stable.   Brooke recalls her transfer to Rob Heathcote and a very productive twelve months with the leading stable.   During that time she won a race on Rocky King for trainer Tom Bourke. She still rates Rocky King the best she’s  ridden to date.   Brooke talks of her highly successful association with Moree trainer Peter Sinclair. They’ve had some great days together. The hard working jockey reflects on the mounting yard spill which would result in an emergency flight to the Royal North Shore Spinal Unit and one long year out of the saddle. Brooke looks back on the cumbersome devices she had to wear during her rehabilitation. She looks back on the unexpected double at Grafton last September which would regenerate her career. Brooke says she’s having trouble getting her head around the amazing run she’s had since returning to the saddle. She talks of the top Sydney jockey who was her first role model, and the two female riders who’ve been her inspiration. Female jockeys have taken their riding talents to another level in the past decade. Brooke Stower is among the best.