David Ord talks to George Baker about his new autobiography - Taking My Time - and the remarkable story it tells.
Watch the video interview in full
The injuries sustained by George Baker in a fall at St Moritz in February 2017 were initially life-threatnening, and have been life-changing.
We sit talking at the impressive new Hilton Garden Inn Hotel at Doncaster Racecourse on the eve of the William Hill St Leger, a race George won aboard Harbour Law in 2016.
But now he's a former jockey. Bleeding on the brain sustained in that horror incident in Switzerland left doctors pondering whether he'd walk again - let alone get back involved in the sport he loves.
But he is - as a TV pundit - and his remarkable recovery inevitably forms part of a new autobiography, Taking My Time, published by the Racing Post.
But the nature of the injuries sustained means he has no recollection of the early days as he fought for his life - then the painful, slow, rebuilding process. It was left to those closest to him to tell the story, something his wife Nicola does with incredible clarity and warmth. It's a compelling read - and was for George too.
"I don't really remember any of the bad stuff, but reading the book highlighted what a big deal it was for my wife and my family. Reading it on paper hit home how scary it was at the time for them all. We can laugh about it now but it's quite humbling to look back and realise all the help I received. When I was in my hour of need, racing was very helpful," he said.
"Everyone rallied around. Nicola went through hell with me. No-one really knew what was going to be possible through the recovery, you never know what can be achieved with head injuries. To have a young baby at home too, it was an incredibly hard time for her. Our families rallied round to help as she was coming to London every day to see me and was a full-time single-parent and a full-time carer for her husband."
So when do the recollections begin for the man at the centre of the drama?
"My time in London at the Wellington Hospital is when I first started to realise what had happened. I have a blank period of four to five weeks when I was in post-traumatic amnesia and the Wellington Hospital was an amazing place," he said.
The initial prognosis was bleak - to Baker's own blissful ignorance. While medical professionals and those closest to him had to ponder questions over whether he'd even be able to walk again, his own mind was set on returning to the only career he knew.
"It was only my family who ever realised that walking again was in question. It never entered my mind. I don't remember worrying about it all - all those who helped me in the rehab said I was very driven but I thought I was alright at the time. I was driven every day by getting back race-riding and that was a good goal to have."
It acted as a great incentive even though as time passed it began to dawn on him that it was an unobtainable goal.
"As I progressed with my rehab there were certain things with my balance and coordination that just planted a seed of doubt," he admits.
"I then watched a documentary on Sky called The Crash Reel about a snowboarder who had a similar head injury and I watched him struggle to get back to his sport. When I saw that I realised I had to go through the same processes and a specialist told him 'if you bang your head again, we just don't know how your body will deal with it - you're not as robust as you were'.
"It's fair to say I had already accepted I wouldn't be able to ride again even before the doctors told me."
The timing of the retirement may have been out of his hands but George Baker hung up his saddle happy with what he achieved during 18 years as a jockey.
"I definitely have no regrets - throughout my career I gave everything and left no stone unturned. I would have liked more top quality success though. I rode three Group One winners and a Classic winner too but I'd have liked more."
There were significant associations with horses too - not least Premio Loco. Trained by Chris Wall, himself a huge influence on the rider's career, the chestnut now enjoys his retired life with the Bakers.
"Premio Loco was instrumental in getting me established and encouraging people to give me better rides," he said.
"Harbour Law was amazing to have around - he was my only Classic winner and that's a great thing to tick off on your CV before you retire and I absolutely adore Quest For More. He was a slow-burner who ended up winning a Prix du Cadran - he was a great horse to be involved with."
The good news is George Baker isn't lost to the sport - he's emerging as a very respected pundit even though swapping the racecourse for the press room was a forced move.
"It's a bit of a different set-up to the weighing room but it's nice to be involved and come racing with a purpose and not just as a spectator, which I struggled with in the early days.I felt out of place but when you're there working it makes it more enjoyable. Its good fun."
So was speaking to George. A lovely man, with an incredible story to tell.
Taking My Time, by George Baker, is published by Racing Post and available now.
