Racehorse raising money for paralysed jockey Graham Lee poised for Redcar debut

A RACEHORSE raising money for injured jockey Graham Lee makes her debut at Redcar on Monday.

Graham, a Grand National winner during his National Hunt career before switching to the flat, has been left paralysed from the neck down following a fall at Newcastle in November.

The racing community has rallied to support the popular Irishman and his family since the accident, and The Good Racing Company has acquired a two-year-old, called We’ve Got This, to run in the colours of The Graham Lee Racing Club.

The filly (pictured above as a yearling), is by Group 3-winning stallion Invincible Army, and is scheduled to make her debut in the racingtv.com EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes at Redcar’s Monday meeting.

• To find out more about The Good Racing Club, go to: www.thegoodracing.co

The horse is being trained at Easingwold by Craig Lidster, and Redcar racegoers will be invited to support Graham by becoming a club member for just £17.

Graham’s wife Becky and son Robbie will be at Redcar to see the horse run, along with other members of the club. The Good Racing Company’s Director of Racing, Paul Hanagan, will also be at the seaside course where he rode many winners.

We’ve Got This has been generously gifted to the club by Alfa Site Services, while Craig Lidster, Minster Vets, and Spillers Feeds are also providing their services for free.

The Good Racing Company was set up to benefit different charitable organisations and individuals, and has raised more than £220,000 for charity. That includes £185,554 for Rob Burrows and his family through syndication of a horse called Macarone, also trained by Craig Lidster.

A national hunt horse, Go Go Chicago, trained by David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, is also raising money for Racing Welfare and Racing To School. The horse has been injured but is due to run soon.

Phil Hawthorne, CEO of The Good Racing Company, said: “We’ve Got This has been working extremely well on the gallops, so fingers crossed for a good run on her debut. Hopefully, we’ll get more members signing up in support of Graham and the Lee family.”

Amy Fair, general manager of Redcar Racecourse, added: “Graham was a regular and very popular rider at Redcar and we’re honoured that We’ve Got This is making her debut with us. It’s been great to see the racing community rallying round Graham and his family, and this is another great example of that heart-warming support.”