Young and promising jockey Kieran Shoemark will return to racing on Saturday evening in a £4,800 median auction maiden stakes at Lingfield for his first ride since November after testing positive for cocaine.
The 23 year old will be hooping to get back to winning ways on board Heroic trained by Charles Hills as he starts a new chapter in his life and can hopefully get his career back on track after the mistake he made back in 2018.
He was seen and still is one of the sports best up and coming jockeys and after his injury back in 2017 when he was going for the Apprentice title he fell down the wrong path of alcohol and drugs.
Since his ban he has taken this time out of the sport to speak professionally and intelligently about his addictions and he now hopes that he can channel all his energy into becoming the best jockey he can be.
(Credit Racing Post) Shoemark has expressed he can't wait to get going and has said: "It's ideal to come back with one ride – I know he's a decent ride – at Lingfield in the evening with no pressure. There's a lot of other things going on with the Champions League, the boxing, the rugby and the Derby.
"I've been riding out since February, but there's nothing you can really do to prepare yourself for race-riding.
"I remember when I was injured last year it took me a while, but I'd only been riding out for a week then whereas it's been months now. I've done a lot in the gym and am really looking forward to it.
"It's fantastic to be back – I'm packing my racing bag now – and I've had loads of support from everyone and have a busy few days coming up.
"I'm at Nottingham tomorrow, then Wolverhampton, Lingfield and Kempton, and Charlie seems to have chucked me on plenty of his, which is great."
As mentioned he would like to comeback with a win and he had this to say on his ride, he added: "I've not sat on him much at home and he needs to hit a bit of form. Seven furlongs will suit him, but he'd rather a bit more give in the ground."
The rider has not set any targets for the summer of riding but is very happy for every opportunity he can get.
He added: "I want to get back into the weighing room and to normality," he continued. "Race-riding is all I've known. It's been a long six months so I'm looking forward to getting back and not having people asking every day, 'When are you riding?'.
"I don't have any figures, but I just want to ride winners, keep everyone happy, which I know is impossible, and build up a relationship with Charlie and the Hills family."