Legendary jockey Jim Crowley’s recovery from a broken leg and pelvis has suffered a minor setback, but the 47-year-old remains hopeful of being back in the saddle in time for Royal Ascot.
Crowley was badly injured in a fall at York in September when his mount Almeraq came down in the Garrowby Stakes. Fellow jockey Trevor Whelan was also brought down; Whelan’s recovery from a broken leg has suffered a significant delay after he required further surgery.
This month Crowley developed a tendon issue in his leg. Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, he said the tendon problem “needed readdressing,” and he underwent the procedure on the Wednesday of Cheltenham (March 11). He is now on crutches and rehabbing, and can weight-bear, but the complication has likely set his comeback back by about a month.
“I’ll make a full recovery but it wasn’t healing as well as I would’ve liked and I had a bit of problem with a tendon in my leg so that needed readdressing,” Crowley said. “I don’t have a date for being back but I’m doing everything I can to get back as soon as I can. I’d like to be back by the end of May, that’s what I’m aiming for, but whether I’ll get there, I don’t know.”