Newmarket jockey Hayley Turner has admitted she thought her racing career was over after a fall in March 2009.

The 27-year-old has bounced back from the serious concussion to record a strong set of results in 2010.

She told BBC Look East: "It was quite frightening because they said there was a chance you might never ride again.

"It gave a me wake up call in life in general, it makes you think about how we work ridiculous hours and how much we love racing."

Turner suffered the head injury while taking a horse through the stalls on the Newmarket gallops.

An initial diagnosis put her out for 12 months but she was back in the saddle by the summer of that year.

Michael Bell's horses are in cracking form at the moment and he's got quite a bit of ammo for this time of year so it's a big bonus for me Hayley Turner

She says she could not imagine having to walk away from the sport: "I was stood down for a year and I had to be reassessed and I was thinking 'what am I going to do?'

"I absolutely love it and I wouldn't want to do anything else.

"You get up at 5.30 in the morning and go to meetings and get back at midnight and people say 'God, you're mad,' but I love it and that's the case with all the jockeys."

The former joint Championship Apprentice winner, who in 2008 became the first woman to ride 100 winners in a year, is satisfied with her form since returning to racing.

The current season has seen her spark a successful relationship with Michael Bell's two-year-old Margot Did and notch up 47 wins on the turf.

"I'm happy with how it's gone this season, I'm hoping to get to 50 winners on the grass," she added.

"Michael's horses are in cracking form at the moment and he's got quite a bit of ammo for this time of year so it's a big bonus for me."

Turner is supporting BBC Sport's Unsung Hero 2010where you can nominate your unsung sporting hero.

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