Injured Jockeys Fund look to build state-of-the-art centre in Newmarket

Plans to build a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and fitness centre for riders in Newmarket are being discussed by H&H’s charity of the year, the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF).

It follows the success of Oaksey House in Lambourn, opened in 2009, and Jack Berry House in Malton, Yorkshire, which opened its doors in 2015. Both centres have played pivotal roles in rehabilitation and maintaining day-to-day fitness for jockeys, stable staff and other equestrians.

“We are at the very early stages of exploring what might be achievable. We would love to be able to offer jockeys in Newmarket a similar level of support to that of Oaksey House and Jack Berry House. We also hope to be able to work really closely with the other charities already based in Newmarket,” said Lisa Hancock, CEO of the IJF.

The charity, which has spent around £18million helping over 1,000 jockeys since it was founded in 1964, is working closely with the Newmarket-based British Racing School.

The proposal to bring a new rehabilitation centre and gym facilities for jockeys to the town — recognised as the headquarters of British horse racing — is in its initial planning stages.

“We are delighted to be working with the IJF. Both Oaksey House and Jack Berry House provide invaluable support and it would be wonderful to offer the same range of facilities here,” said the British Racing School’s CEO Grant Harris.

“For our part we are in desperate need of a new gym for our trainees and other [racing industry] courses, so this seems a perfect fit.

“There is much work to do and no fixed dates yet, but we can use the IJF’s knowledge from the previous two builds to move quite fast.”

The Injured Jockeys Fund is Horse & Hound’s charity of the year for 2016. To donate click here.

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