Weichong Marwing (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Big race rider Weichong Marwing has returned to work after an extended absence. Speaking from his home earlier this afternoon he confirmed, “The doc is quite happy and has booked me back to ride. If all goes well, I’m hoping to be race riding again by the end of April,” he told the Sporting Post on Thursday, 7 April 2016.
Weichong on Smart Call
Marwing was last seen on our tracks at the Vaal on 14 January 2016 aboard Ormond Ferraris filly Chinawhite. “As I rode her back to the no 2 box, my back went into spasm. At the time I thought it was just an ordinary spasm and got the course doctor to take a look. She stood me down as I could not bend, but rightfully said that she was not a chiropractor and advised me to have it looked at. The following day I went to see my chiro and physio and we all thought it was just a spasm, but it kept coming on and off over the next few days. At the time I was trying to get ready for the million dollar and the Met in particular and hoping it would settle down. After the Paddock Stakes, I knew Smart Call was very well and although it’s a lot easier to say now, I thought she had a chance. I was supposed to fly down on the morning of the Met when the spasm came back and that’s why I never rode – it’s pointless going to Cape Town if you can’t even bend,” he says with feeling.
“None of my regular therapists were available, but because it had kept coming back I figured it had to be something else, so I went to have an MRI. That showed up a tear in my L3 and L4 so I contacted a neurosurgeon who hospitalised me and gave me some wonderful drugs to relieve all the spasms and discomfort and then we sat down and discussed my options.”
The options were surgery or rest and given the associated risks with surgical procedures, Marwing opted for the rest option. “I rested throughout January and February and went back to see him in March and they then asked me to come back in April. They prescribed some exercises to strengthen my core and help build up the muscles to take some of the strain off my back. I went back last week and they were very happy, so now it’s just a process to get back to work.”
He was back at morning work on Tuesday, 5 April 2016. “I just need to get fit and get comfortable and make sure there are no aches and pains, so I’m just taking it slowly and not rushing things. I’m not riding a lot of horses, but and at this stage, touch wood, everything feels comfortable.”
Going forward
“As the doctor says, he can say it’s fine and I can feel fine, but it just takes one horse to take an awkward step and put me in an awkward position and it could come back again. I realise I’m not a baby anymore and I work in a risky profession, so I’m just really, really hoping nothing goes wrong. I’ve been a bit frustrated being on the side lines and watching horses I’ve been associated with for so long coming through. This is the time of the season we have all the major races in Joburg and those are always pointing towards the Natal season. I’m just thankful and grateful that barring anything going wrong, I will be ready for the Durban season.”
