Emma Goring has waited 21 years and then drove 13 hours to the middle of Queensland to be there for son Mitch’s first winner as a jockey. Then she couldn’t watch it.
But she has lived every moment, every emotion, since she was pregnant carrying Mitch when her husband Mark was killed in a race fall at Tatura, five days short of his 23nd birthday. That was January 2003.
That loss remains still raw and very real and always nearby.
And its why Em only listens to any of Mitch's rides and makes sure he is safely around before watching a replay. (Something she has done “a million times since Saturday though.”)
Never wishing her son would follow the same path to the saddle as Mark, Goring was at Thangool on Saturday as Mitch finally did something Mark did 140 times in his career, come back a winner on Sensationabull.
“It was as if he was waiting for me to be there for him to ride a winner,” she said.
“I know this sounds terrible but since Mitch was a little boy, all he said is that he will be a jockey when he grew up and to be completely honest, I chose to ignore him, hoping it would never happen,” Goring said.
“People must be so sick of hearing this and quite frankly I don’t care as they haven’t walked in my shoes, but I am so bloody proud of him.
“Mitch has had more than enough hurdles to jump pursuing his career so in my eyes there is no one more deserving. His determination is an inspiration,” Goring said.
Mitch Goring only recently turned 21, “another milestone Mark has missed and now this, his first winner, but he’d be so bloody proud of him,” Em said.
Mitch finally achieved his dream of becoming an apprentice jockey - having to leave his close-knit family and friends to start with Adam Simpson on the Sunshine Coast. He made his debut finishing second at Kilcoy, but that was June last year. It took another 21 rides before Thangool.
“I was just numb really, that’s probably the best way to describe it,” said Mitch.
But having his mum there, distance has meant she has rarely been there since that debut, meant so much more.
“Crossing the line, it was quite surreal, something I’ve worked so hard for and thinking I’ve been lucky to be able to live my dream and then mum and her friends were there to cheer me back in, we will never forget it.”
“I’m still soaking it in to be honest.”
But one thing is that Mitch will never get ahead of himself, an intelligent and level-headed young man, deservedly proud of his achievement and now looking to build for more. And in partner and fellow, jockey Ali Bryan he has “my rock," who has shared the tough journey of late.
“Sure, it has been challenging, physically and mentally and it’s been a long hard journey but just being able to ride in race means everything to me.
“One thing though is that I never wanted to do it to prove something, I wanted to do it on my own terms, not because others wanted me to,” he said.
Mum Em was one of those, but always knew deep down, there was nothing she was going to do stop Mitch doing what the father that he never met, instilled in those bloodlines.
“I was speechless, screaming and jumping about like he had just won the Melbourne Cup. I had goosebumps for head to toe like no tomorrow,” she said.
Likewise, Em’s daughter and Mitch’s “thick as thieves” sister Maddy, who has shared the journey and now looking forward to motherhood herself, she is 24 weeks pregnant with partner Kyle Ingram.
It is something not lost on Em that brings memories of Mark back all the time.
“Looking back on all the milestones that Mark has missed out on with Maddy and Mitch, I thought it might get easier as time goes by, but lately it seems to be one thing after another.
“Now Maddy, as excited as I am, I would be lying if I said I hadn’t struggled. It should be a time Mark and I share together as grandparents but sadly just add it to the list of something else he missed out on,” she said.
But added that Mark was “first to know” she was pregnant, Maddy and Kyle taking their positive pregnancy test to the cemetery to place it on his grave.
“Then Mitch turned 21 three weeks ago, three weeks ago and I was posting his birthday card, that was also a hard pill to swallow knowing I wouldn’t be able to see him on the actual birthday.
“Instead, I spent a couple of hours at the cemetery graveside reminiscing of that bittersweet day 21 years ago.”
“I cannot explain the so many emotions that I had running through my head on Saturday, even now such a surreal feeling. His dad would so proud.”
So, it was only a benchmark 45 at Thangool, next maybe Bowen this weekend, but wilder ambitions are of a race in November. No not that one at Flemington that all jockeys dream off, but the Mark Goring Memorial at Tatura.
(Paying The Ultimate Price - TVN Documentary)
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