CHAMPION Newcastle jockey Allan Robinson's record-breaking and headline-grabbing career could be over.
Robinson admitted that he might be forced to give away race riding due to the effects of a fall at Cessnock on Tuesday July 6.
The larrikin smile and quick one-liners that have become "Robbo's" trademark are now replaced with a look of concern as he battles ongoing health problems.
"Unless I start to feel better then it certainly could be all over for me," Robinson told the Newcastle Herald on Saturday. "I have never suffered so badly after a fall. Right now the last thing I am thinking of is riding again.
"Really, if this is the finish I have to accept it and get on with life."
Robinson continues to suffer vomiting and dizzy spells by simply standing up quickly.
The problems were so severe the 43-year-old was referred to a Sydney neurosurgeon, who diagnosed nerve damage to the skull.
"I have been put out for three months and I was told time is the only thing that might heal things right now," Robinson said.
"The surgeon said that it may in fact take six months, and if I am still not right then I might have to undergo an operation to try and sort things out.
"That is not a great prospect so I have to be prepared for the reality that I might not ride again."
Robinson has been riding for 29 years after starting with master Newcastle trainer Paul Perry as a 14-year-old.
Robinson and Perry dominated Newcastle racing over decades and in 1998 Robinson rode more winners in a single season than any jockey in Australia.
The amazing amount of winners he clocked up from the city to the bush throughout the land has been countered by his run-ins with stewards and race officials.
He has been suspended more than 100 times - a world record - and has taken on stewards in highly publicised stoushes that have made national headlines.
Robinson was back at the races on Saturday for the first time since he crashed head-first into the Cessnock turf in a two-horse fall on Jungle Juice Cup day.
He attended an inquiry into the horror crash at Cessnock before the meeting staged by the Newcastle Jockey Club.
Stewards concluded an inquiry into the fall of Robinson (Pocket Change) and Scott Thurlow (Assonance) in the incident, which occurred in the Australian Hotels Association Handicap over 1500 metres.
Evidence was taken from jockeys Chris O'Brien (Jeffery Joe), Grant Buckley (Pretty Beach), Dale Spriggs (Thundergaze), Robinson and Thurlow.
Stewards concluded that they could not be comfortably satisfied that any rider could be deemed to be careless in the incident.
Stewards found the same result in relation to the four-horse fall at Scone where three apprentices were badly hurt.
The inquiry was also concluded at Broadmeadow on Saturday morning when Tamworth-based steward Shane Cullen headed proceedings.
It was found that no blame could be attributed after apprentice Jodie Riley had clipped heels accidentally and that three other riders - Jeff Penza, Clare Pettigrew and Alison Threadwell - then fell.
Penza escaped injury and said after the inquiry that the fall had been "just one of those things".
Pettigrew will resume riding at Taree today.
"Clare is right to ride again but the other apprentices involved are still a long way off resuming," Racing NSW official Mal Johnston said.
"Jodie Riley had had an operation to repair damage to her collarbone and Alison is out of hospital and attended today but is still a long way off being fully recovered.
"She could be off for three months or longer but she did say she is not giving up on riding again."
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