Liam Treadwell’s legacy is to talk about mental health, says Tom Scudamore

He chose to spoke out as racing tries to come to terms with 
the passing of Treadwell, the 2009 Grand National-winning jockey, at the tragically young age of 34.

Treadwell’s body was found by police on Tuesday morning at his home in Shropshire. There are said to be no suspicious circumstances.

Yet, while Treadwell had been helped by both the Professioinal Jockeys Association and Injured Jockeys Fund in recent years, Scudamore fears that there is still “a stigma” attached to the issue.

And he appealed to riders to make use of the confidential support services and helplines that are now available 24 hours a day thanks to the PJA, IJF and Racing Welfare placing a greater emphasis on mental illness.

Treadwell’s death – he was a rider and assistant to Shopshire trainer Alistair Ralph – left racing stunned and came just months after former jockey James Banks, another popular member of the weighing room, died.

In a tragic twist, Treadwell was one of the pallbearers at the funeral of Banks, 36, who had been unable, according to his inquest, to come to terms with a number of personal struggles after a career which had yielded 85 winners.

Scudamore, a longstanding and much respected board member of the PJA, said he, too, was finding it difficult to understand the deaths because of the protocols that had been put in place to support riders.

“It is nothing to be frightened about or be ashamed of, we’re all on your side,” the rider told The Yorkshire Post.

“Racing, as an industry, is trying and, as far as I am concerned, there are no stigmas, but maybe there are some people.

“As a jockey, it is not a team sport and you don’t want to show any weakness, but you don’t have to be the same person off the track as you are on it.

“You want people to succeed – the thing with Liam is I don’t think he was as proud about his achievements as he should have been.

“He won a Grand National. He won at the Cheltenham Festival. They are very, very hard things to achieve. How do you not find solace in those accomplishments?”

Scudamore, one of a select number of National Hunt jockeys with more than 1,000 winners to his name, says there is much soul-searching taking place about how to ensure support is more widely available.

He said the loss of Treadwell, who won the 2009 National on the 100-1 outsider Mon Mome, was even harder to understand because the jockey had taken part in a past Jockeys Matter film to highlight mental health.

Treadwell endured a stop-start riding career – it actually began on the Flat with the late Thirsk trainer Dandy Nicholls – and retired from a career in the saddle two years ago after being left concussed by a fall.

However, he made a comeback last season and was a popular member of the weighing room. “Life was always a battle for him (Treadwell), and I thought he was winning,” added Scudamore.

“It was a shock, but it wasn’t a surprise. I thought he had got through the worst of it – that’s why there is so much shock. For those also struggling, it’s not a problem. Get in touch.

“It doesn’t matter who you are – all that matters is you make that call in the knowledge that it will be treated totally confidentially.

“It doesn’t matter if you are straight, gay, black or white, it is irrelevant. There’s nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to be frightened of. If there are other issues, there are people there to help.”

In her tribute, Mon Mome’s trainer Venetia Williams said: “I think we all thought he (Treadwell) was in a good place now, having been through some tough times in previous years.

“We thought his renewed career had put in him in a situation where he was happy. Liam rode many winners for us, but over and above that he was such a lovely person and, ironically, always such a happy person.”

In a joint statement, the 
IJF and PJA said they were “heartbroken to have lost one of their own”.

It said past and present riders can either speak to the PJA or IJF or contact Sporting Chance directly on the 0778 000 8877. Its helplines are manned 24/7. The PJA has also said that it will fund any support that jockeys require.

Anyone else within the sport struggling with mental health issues are advised to contact the Racing Welfare helpline on 0800 6300 443. Samaritans are also available and can be contacted on 116 123.

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