AS it was, Millicent jockey Paul Marks had scaled down his riding operations of late without copping any injuries in the run up to Christmas.
Marks is the only senior rider based in the Limestone Coast these days and, being on the wrong side of 50 years of age, he is finding it harder and harder to secure race day rides.
In what was a very untimely incident, especially at this time of the year, Marks was injured during track work at Millicent last week on a horse for a local trainer which will see him out of the saddle until the New Year.
The mishap has left him extremely sore down the right side with injuries to his knee, hip and shoulder.
But this set back has not seen Marks even entertain the thought of hanging up the saddle and his aim will be back riding as soon as possible.
This year saw him and wife Debbie again head to the Kimberley region of Western Australia during the winter to ride mainly during the Broome winter carnival.
However, instead of heading across to Wyndham and Kununurra on the return journey as has been the norm in the past, the couple headed down the west coast of Western Australia where Marks picked up rides at Carnarvon, Mount Magnet and Geraldton.
Since being back in Millicent, Marks answered the call of the Alice Springs racing club to ride there on one occasion.
He was all set to do so again before Christmas until this latest setback.
All being well, the couple will do the western safari again in 2020.
