Trevor Jacobs was back doing what he loves most after watching one of his horses win in person.
The former bricklayer has come a long way since he spent 16 months in hospital after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), an auto-immune disease that steadily shuts down the body's nerve functions. And it was during that period Jacobs won £7,000 despite being in a coma at the time.
Jacobs' son, Ryan, kept up his dad's habit of placing a weekend bet or two while he was confined for all those months while professionals sought to diagnose the rare condition. And a £150 trixie paid dividends while the long-time horse part-owner was being kept alive by machines.
READ MORE: Frankie Dettori kissed Queen Camilla and broke royals rule as jockey left her open-mouthed
READ MORE: Rachael Blackmore says 2024 Grand National changes are in best interests of the race
Hospital staff came in to check on Jacobs at his bedside in Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital, and he told the Telegraph: “The consultant came in and said, ‘I can’t believe what I’m seeing. You can’t move and you can’t breathe or talk and you’ve just won £7,000."
As emotional as that moment might have been, it perhaps didn't compare with Tuesday's events as Soigneux Bell rallied to win the Best of British Events Juvenile Handicap at Fontwell. The three-year-old – who is trained by Jacobs collaborator Gary Moore – pulled 11 lengths clear to give its owner their first win in person since leaving intensive care.
Does a four-figure win while in a coma the best bet you've heard of? Let us know in the comments section below.
It's understandable that Jacobs cut an emotional figure after the result, surrounded by friends and family on a rainy day in West Sussex. The first-place prize of £4,356.80 wasn't quite as impressive as the trixie win in March, but for him it's likely to prove priceless.
"I've been crying my eyes out," he told At The Races while sat in a wheelchair. "I've had lots of horses, but being in hospital 16 months. . .and laying in bed thinking of buying a horse, and I got this fella. He's run fantastic. It's great to be here. It's an achievement in itself.
Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we'll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
"My family are here but I just wish I could bring the nurses who looked after me all this time. They were fantastic. The NHS. . .until you're in it you don't know how good it is, the hospital was like a second home for me."
Soigneux Bell dominated the rest of the field over a little more than two miles despite entering as a distant 5/1 shot. That will have surely made the victory all the more enjoyable for Jacobs, whose return to the track couldn't have been much sweeter.
Source: Read Full Article
