Chynna Marston will cap a triumphant return to the racing industry on Black Opal Stakes day, but the former jockey won't be in her silks for Canberra's marquee meeting.
A race fall at Tumut two years ago ended Marston's career as a hoop, forcing her to find a new way to stay involved in the sport she loves.
The Canberra racing community was rocked by another fall last week when track-work rider Riharna Thomson died on Friday.
Trainers, friends, strappers and jockeys will pay tribute to Thomson's life by wearing black armbands and taking part in a special mounting yard ceremony to remember the popular 22-year-old.
For Marston it's a reminder of how lucky she is to be alive and she will return to the Black Opal to be a part of Sky Racing's broadcast team after making a career switch five months ago.
It will be Marston's first Black Opal on the other side of the fence and her appointment marks a significant comeback.
Marston was unconscious for five minutes, suffered a seizure, broke her nose in two places, had trauma to her T2 and T3 vertebrae and damaged ligaments and muscles in her neck in a fall in 2014.
The accident changed her life forever and Marston admitted she misses racing dearly. But the 25-year-old is grateful to be back working in the tight-knight racing community.
"It certainly fills a void that was missing when I had to retire from racing, it's just a fantastic environment to be around, the atmosphere and the people are wonderful," Marston said.
"Racing was an incredible adrenaline rush that I don't think you can get anywhere else, I definitely miss it, but joining Sky Racing is very exciting, it's a dream job."
Marston has been given the all clear by neurologists to get back in the saddle, but won't ride competitively again because she is still finding the right medication balance to manage her epilepsy and seizures.
"I was really excited when I got the green light a few weeks ago, it was a little bit daunting to think what could possible happen but it felt wonderful to be back on," Marston said.
"I'm only allowed to ride my horses but I find it to be great therapy and a real stress reliever. I have a business called Recycled Racehorses which is where I get retired racehorses from the track and re-educate them and re-home them for other careers to give them a future after racing."
Being back in the paddock with her horses marks a significant milestone for Marston, but the former Wagga apprentice knows the road to recovery will continue for some time.
"It has been a very slow road. The epilepsy has played a really significant role, I keep having seizures and I still can't drive so I've lost my independence," Marston said.
"It's been quite frustrating at times but the horses have played a huge role in my recovery, just spending alone time with them allows me to relax and get hold of the bigger picture when things get a bit too stressful."
Marston began her budding career in the broadcast booth in November and has been working at regional meets in preparation for the capital's biggest day of racing.
"It's very exciting, I've been working around all the races in the southern districts and to broadcast on such a big day in Canberra is obviously a high of my career," Marston said.
"On my first day I was very excited until the camera came on me then the nerves hit. But I've been involved in racing for a long time and it's talking horses which I can do with a mouth full of marbles, so it has taken a bit to get used to the camera but it has been a wonderful experience."
The former law and philosophy student postponed her studies to take up riding and she considered returning to the books to help pass the time during her lay-up, but short term memory issues has prevented it.
"At this stage I'm still hoping to go back and maybe study journalism, but with the epilepsy we're still finding the right balance between all of my medications," Marston said.
"I still get quite drowsy and worn out quickly and suffer from migraines, but hopefully we find a balance and my memory comes back to an extent.
"It's just about waiting until my body and mind is right and once everything is on track I'll get back into it."