Injured Jockeys Fund

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...

Jockey Graham Lee, who was injured in a fall on leaving the stalls in a race at Newcastle on Friday evening, has been diagnosed with an unstable cervical fracture and remains in intensive care at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in the city. The 47-year-old has damage to his spinal cord and other complications. His condition has been described as "very serious." On Monday, his former weighing-room colleague Sir Anthony McCoy and Jack Berry, respectively president and vice-president of the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), released a joint-statement which read, "Like everyone...

Jacob Pritchard Webb's charity ride has reached the finish post, but the donations keep coming in since the conclusion of the three-day event Saturday afternoon which began July 7 at Cheltenham. The 25-year-old former jockey, paralysed after a fall at Auteuil in June of 2020, was riding in support of both the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Matt Hampson Foundation with the current figure sitting at around £13,000 by the time he crossed the line at Newmarket. "I'm slightly overwhelmed to be honest. The support and donations have been amazing,...

There will be a special interactive display on The Hill at Epsom Downs in recognition of The Queen's passion for the Thoroughbred during the official Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Cazoo Oaks and Cazoo Derby Days, June 3-4. Billed the Racing Showcase, the display will highlight the care that is shown for racehorses throughout their lives, how the racing industry is engaging and inspiring young people to look at racing as a career, the provisions the industry makes for its people and how racing is looking to reach out to communities...

Amateur rider Lorna Brooke passed away on Sunday after falling at Taunton earlier this month, the Injured Jockeys Fund announced on Monday morning. Brooke, 37, fell from Orchestrated (Ire) (Mahler {GB}), owned and trained by her mother, Lady Susan Brooke. "It is with deep sadness that we have to share the tragic news that Lorna Brooke passed away yesterday," the IJF statement said. "Her family thank everyone for their kindness in the last few weeks, particularly the staff at Southmead Hospital who were so professional. They will be having a...

For the first time, the annual Jockeys and Jeans auction raised funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, including Quarter Horse Industry stallions. Former nine-time Champion Jockey G.R. Carter spearheaded the effort, enlisting Quarter Horse breeders, who spent $31,500 for breeding seasons, while Thoroughbred stallion season buyers paid $36,100. Powered by volunteers, Jockeys and Jeans, founded by five former riders in late 2014, has raised $1.6 million for about 60 disabled former jockeys who receive a monthly $1,000 stipend from the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The annual Jockeys and Jeans...

Throughout the sport, the coronavirus has meant adjustments, For most jockeys, that includes no longer being able to use the "hot box" to take off weight. For several racetracks and racing departments, that has meant a concession to the jockeys in the form of raising the scale of weights. But will these temporary solutions become permanent when life returns to normal and might eliminating the saunas in jockeys' quarters ultimately prove to be a solution that helps riders stay healthy? These are questions already being discussed. The saunas, which many...

This time last year, life looked a lot different for Ryan Tate. Like most every jockey, Tate's days began at 5 a.m. when he would get up to ride work, in his case at Heath House Stables as a retained rider to Sir Mark Prescott. When training ended it was straight into the car to head to the races, perhaps a 14-hour round trip to Ayr or Hamilton. Or a fleeting visit to Kempton for a ride or two before rushing off to make the three-hour drive to Yarmouth, or...

A grant of £2.3 million from the Racing Foundation was secured by the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), the Jockeys Education and Training Scheme (JETS) and the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) it was announced on Wednesday. The five-year grant sees the three organisations unite under the long-term goal of positioning jockeys as elite athletes, benefitting the industry as a whole. The grant proposal is referred to as the 'Jockey Athlete', with three areas prioritised: the Jockey Coaching Programme (JCP), Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health and Nutrition, and Jockey Athlete Ambassadors. "We are...