Jockeys on the comeback trail at Roma’s Bassett Park

By Jordan Gerrans

On a race card filled with jockey comeback tails at Roma this Saturday, Dennis Baker’s journey back to the track is one that he thought may never happen just a few years ago.

Sidelined for the best part of two years following back surgery, the 58-year-old is making his way back to the regional Queensland riding ranks after around eight years away from the caper.

Riding at Bassett Park in Roma this Saturday, Baker will be joined by hoops Nicole Seymour and Luke Miller – who have also spent significant time on the sidelines in recent years.

The veteran last rode at Goondiwindi in the last month of 2014 before making a comeback last Saturday afternoon at Nanango with a pair of rides.

He will add three more engagements to his return this Saturday at Roma.

From the famous Baker racing family in the bush, he is the brother of Roma trainer Wayne Baker and the uncle of leading provincial rider Les Tilley.

Dennis has battled a tough time to get back to race riding, struggling with opportunities before injury struck.

“I was on a horse at my brother's place, it bucked and chucked me up against something and it cracked three bones in my back,” Dennis recalled.

“I had to have a back operation.

“They had to put plates and pins in my back – it put me away from the horses for about two years, not doing anything.”

After recovering from the back surgery, Baker made his way back to the industry as a stablehand but was quickly on the path back to riding, as wife Leeanne detailed.

“He got the bug and realised he needed to be back on horses, not just leading them,” Leeanne said.

“He told me he wanted to ride again.

“I think the bug bit again and went to get his jockeys licence once again.

“He is back in the saddle again.”

Baker rode two gallopers for Paula Cartledge last Saturday in his return and will partner the same two horses this Saturday at Roma, as well as Mr Stack for trainer Sheree McEwan, across the five-event non-TAB program.

“He is back doing it for his own enjoyment,” Leeanne said.

“There is a bit of a shortage of jockeys in the bush so he is happy to travel to pick up rides.

“When he heard horses were getting scratched because they could not get jockeys, that motivated him to get back into it.”

Before the incident which required surgery, Baker relocated to chase more chances on race day.

“I was battling to get rides at Charleville so I made the move to Toowoomba to get a few more rides,” Dennis, who has ridden 13 winners in his life, said.

Like Baker, apprentice Seymour took her first race rides in some time earlier this month.

Seymour, who claims two kilograms on the country circuit, was back at Emerald a fortnight ago, which was her first race rides since July of 2019.

The 26-year-old has three engagements at Roma on Saturday, all for Moranbah-based trainer Bevan Johnson.

Miller, who has four bookings at Roma on Saturday all for trainer Wayne Baker, has only had a handful of race rides since early in 2018.