It was a story of triumph after tragedy, a story of a young man and his will to survive, his love for horses and the family spirit - it was what racing is all about.
Travel back to September 2006 at Warnambool, Mark Primmer a local racehorse trainer, his son Brenton was a promising apprentice jockey with a long and successful career ahead of him. Turning for home his galloper Hyped clipped heels and fell Primmer was speared head first into the turf.
Primmer was only a few days away from his 18th birthday, the medical officers feared he wouldn't make it. After the fall Primmer was not breathing and was revived on the track before being taken to South West Healthcare and then flown to The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne in an induced coma. Brain scans taken in the hospital revealed that things were not looking very good. A decision was made to turn off his life support. Amazingly, he continued to breathe on his own since then, and started to show signs of recovery. He half opened his left eye and clenched his fist. He was in intensive care at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, for several weeks before been transferred to the Epworth Rehabilitation Centre.
Fast forward 2 years and Primmer's recovery had been a long one - two fractured vertebrae and serious head injuries will do that. His memories 6 months before and about 18 months after the accident had been erased - a symptom of post traumatic stress. Through professional care and the help of his family he learnt to speak again and feed himself, he was now back doing what he loved at the stables and helping his father with the horses.
Fast forward another 2 and a half years and Primmer's recovery was nearly complete, he was now a co-trainer with his father (licensed by RVL just a fortnight earlier) and they had their galloper Orientaped looking for a win on his home soil. Like some of those medical officers back in 2006 most punters didn't think the horse could make it - he was 11-1 but perhaps sensing the occasion the horse lifted itself to victory.
The scenes in the mounting yard after the race couldn't have been more emotional. A prouder Mum and Dad you would never see, the crowd surrounding the enclosure was enormous for such a minor race and young Brenton tears streaming down his face with joy. His post race interview was like no other and even tho you couldn't understand a word Brenton was saying through his uncontrolled emotions no one really cared because they knew it was a special occasion, even connections of the 2nd horse were glad they had lost.
For young Primmer the win of Orientaped will be a memory he hopes he will never forget.
“I’ve never given up,” he said. “It’s so great to have a second chance.”
The dedicated young trainer — who has three horses in work with his father — has a simple goal.
“I just want to train as many winners as we can,” he said.
Mark Primmer described his son as “a very determined young man”.
“It feels good to win but I don’t like crying in front of everybody,” he said with a laugh.
PS - I'm hoping a story on Brenton Primmer will go to air on TV at some stage and naturally a youtube version may follow, if it does I will certainly post it up.
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