£100,000 raised for JT McNamara
A day held for paralysed jockey JT McNamara at Ffos Las Racecourse in Wales raised £100,000 to help with his care.
The 37-year-old jockey fell from the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Galaxy Rock at this year’s Cheltenham Festival (14 March). He suffered paralysis as a result of the fall and is now continuing his rehabilitation at a specialist unit on Merseyside.
Money was raised on the day by a raffle and special auction. There was a variety of lots put forward from the racing community including donations from champion trainer Nicky Henderson and Coolmore stud.
One of the highest selling lots was a visit to Ballydoyle racing stables in Tipperary — where Aidan O’Brien trains — and a tour of Coolmore Stud with lunch which went for £27,500.
The total raised on the day was a little bit short of the 6-figure amount, so Ffos Las chairman Dai Walters, rounded up the figure.
“We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to raise such a sum of money to help JT McNamara and his family,” said Mr Walters.
“We are indebted to the many very generous bidders in the auction and also most grateful to race-goers who dipped into their pockets to buy raffle tickets on Sunday.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“What happened to JT at the Cheltenham Festival was a terrible accident and at Ffos Las we hope that in a small way we will be able to contribute to his treatment and care.”
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.