Injured Jockeys Fund

Apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes has died at the age of 19, the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) and Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) have announced. Jakes had his first ride under Rules in January 2023 and ended that year with 11 winners in Britain, before adding another 29 winners to his tally in 2024. George Boughey's Fouroneohfever provided him with his most recent win when scoring at Catterick on October 18, taking his total for the current season to 19. Having ridden at Nottingham on Wednesday, Jakes was due to have two...

Thirsk Racecourse stages the second edition of the Graham Lee IJF Stable Staff Stakes on Friday. Sponsored by Sky Bet, the Graham Lee IJF Stable Staff Stakes sees 11 employees from racing yards compete in a one-mile 'hands-and-heels' race. The riders will be 'led up' by professional jockeys, with all participants having agreed to meet the minimum sponsorship obligation of £500. Last year's race raised £20,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), specifically to provide for the future needs of Lee, who was left with life-changing injuries after a fall...

A bumper crowd of 3,000 people turned out to celebrate the life of Keagan Kirkby at Wincanton Racecourse on Sunday, October 27. The Keagan Kirkby Raceday included a charity memorial race in his name, in addition to a seven-race card, and raised funds for Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF)--the two charities which supported Kirkby's friends, family and colleagues after he tragically died in a point-to-point accident in February. In total, the raceday has raised an estimated £116,000 which will be split equally between Racing Welfare and the...

Bloodstock agent Tom Malone has called on the industry to support the Keagan Kirkby Race Day at Wincanton on Sunday, October 27. The former National Hunt jockey is set to ride in the charity race that takes place on the card and has already raised £10,000 for Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund.  Kirkby, who worked for trainer Paul Nicholls, died following a fall at Charing point-to-point in February. He was just 25 years old.  Speaking about the upcoming charity event, Malone said, "This all started when I was...

QIPCO British Champions Series has named two of Europe's racing stars, Yorkshire-born trainer Jack Berry and the outstanding 14-time Group 1 winner Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. Both inductees, together with the Hall of Fame's public vote winner Dubai Millennium (GB), will be recognised with a special presentation on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, October 19. Jack Berry MBE is just the third person to be recognised within the Special Contributor category, following in the footsteps of...

Amateur rider Lauren Keen-Hawkins sustained a major head injury in a fall at Worcester on Sunday and has been hospitalised in Birmingham, the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) announced on Monday. The rider was aboard trainer Kim Bailey's Faerie Cutlass (GB) (Black Sam Bellamy {Ire}) in the last race of the day, a 2 1/2-mile handicap hurdle and was dislodged three flights from the winning post. Keen-Hawkins has a win aboard Dandy Dan (Ire) (Midnight Legend {GB}), as well as a second-place finish at Worcester in July to her credit. In...

Amateur jockey Alice Procter, who injured her spinal cord in a Cartmel fall earlier this month, has left intensive care, the Injured Jockeys' Fund (IJF) announced on Wednesday. The 21-year-old was riding Uggy Uggy Uggy (GB) (Saddler's Rock {Ire}) for trainer Keiran Burke in a female riders' handicap hurdle on July 20 when the fall occurred, and has since undergone surgery. The IJF said in a statement on Tuesday, "Amateur jockey Alice Procter has now left Intensive Care at the Royal Preston Hospital. "As a consequence of her fall, she...

The Graham Lee IJF Fund Stable Staff Stakes, sponsored by Sky Bet, will take place on Friday, July 26 in support of the Injured Jockeys' Fund and Graham Lee, Thirsk Racecourse announced on Wednesday. The race sees 10 volunteers from racing yards compete in a one-mile 'hands and heels' race. The riders will be led up by professional jockeys, with all participants having agreed to meet the minimum sponsorship obligation of £500. A Grand National-winning rider, Lee prevailed in 2004 aboard Amberleigh House (Ire) (Buckskin {Fr}). He also won the...

A statement thanking the racing community for their support was released by the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) on behalf of injured jockey Graham Lee on Saturday. Injured in a severe fall at Newcastle three months ago, the Group 1-winning jockey is currently located at the Spinal Unit of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough. Also a Grand National winner, Lee is planning to modify his house in order to move home in the next few months. A JustGiving page was set up for Lee shortly after his accident and...

Trainer Paul Nicholls has led the tributes to Keagan Kirkby, the amateur rider who tragically died after a fall at Charing point-to-point on Sunday. In a statement released by the Injured Jockeys Fund, the 14-time Champion National Hunt trainer, with whom Kirkby was based, described Kirkby as "one of our best, hardworking lads." Nicholls said, "Life is so hard sometimes, winners totally insignificant compared to what has happened today. Sadly, Keagan Kirkby, one of our best, hardworking lads lost his life today riding in a point-to-point. All at Team Ditcheat...

Injured jockey Graham Lee was moved closer to home to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough recently. The Grand National-winning jockey and Group 1-winning rider sustained spine and neck injuries in a fall at Newcastle two weeks ago. He was previously based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle. A statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) read, "Graham Lee has now moved to the Spinal Unit at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough where he will remain for the foreseeable future. "He is no longer in ITU but...

Jockey Graham Lee is reported to be making "positive progress" by the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) as of Friday. The Group 1-winning rider was unseated from Ben Macdui (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) on leaving the stalls for a sprint handicap last Friday. He has been diagnosed with an unstable cervical fracture which has damaged his spinal cord, and has also undergone two surgeries to stabilise the fractures and protect his spinal cord further. The IJF said in a statement, "Graham has made positive progress in the last 24 hours and has...