Perth jockey Renee Forrest will line up at this Sunday's Rockingham Beach Cup having overcome one of the most challenging periods of her career, returning to competition after a serious car crash earlier this year that left her future in the sport in serious doubt.
Thousands of spectators are expected to descend on the shores of Cockburn Sound for WA's premier beach racing spectacle, but for Forrest, 33, simply being present on the sand is a triumph in its own right. She will take part not only as a competitor but also in her role as racing coordinator for the event.
A Crash That Could Have Ended Everything
In May this year, Forrest was involved in a horrifying car crash in Ellenbrook that left her with significant physical trauma and forced her away from the track during what proved to be a lengthy and difficult recovery. The severity of the incident prompted questions about whether the respected jockey would ever return to racing at all.
It would not be the first time Forrest has had to dig deep. The experienced rider acknowledged she has sustained a string of injuries over the years, any one of which might have prompted another athlete to walk away from the sport entirely.
"I've had my fair share of injuries over time, so there's definitely been enough reasons to call time in the saddle and walk away," Forrest said. "But I just love what I do so much. I love the horses, I love the industry, I love the people I work with and I love the adrenaline."
The Love of Horses That Keeps Drawing Her Back
For Forrest, the bond with her horses has been central to her resilience. She describes the animals with a warmth that goes well beyond professional respect, saying their size, which intimidates many people, holds no fear for her.
"With their size, they scare a lot of people, but I just look at them as big dogs really," she said. "Sometimes they can understand you more than what other humans can. They're just beautiful animals."
That deep connection with the sport ultimately drew her back into the saddle despite the physical and emotional toll of her recovery.
What to Expect at the Rockingham Beach Cup
The Rockingham Beach Cup festival is a two-day event. The opening day on Saturday takes place at Bell Park, hosting the Rotary Community Festival with food trucks, markets, live music and family entertainment. Sunday's headline racing action then moves to the Rockingham foreshore itself, with horses competing directly on the sand in front of the iconic Cockburn Sound backdrop.
Forrest is relishing the prospect of racing in such a unique setting, describing it as a refreshing change from the routine of conventional track work.
"It's something different for us instead of just going around in circles all the time on the tracks," she said.
For a jockey who has spent much of this year fighting her way back to fitness, the chance to compete at one of WA's most beloved racing occasions carries a significance well beyond the race itself.
