A horse named 'We've Got This' will race for a new club launched to raise vital funds for a Grand National winning jockey who suffered life-changing injuries in a terrible accident.
Graham Lee, from Bedale in North Yorkshire, became unseated from his horse Ben Macdui at Newcastle in November last year, suffering an unstable cervical fracture and damaging his spinal cord.
Now, members of The Graham Lee Racing Club - created by The Good Racing Company - will get to follow the career of the two-year-old unraced filly. The horse was chosen specifically for Graham by fellow jockey Paul Hanagan, director of racing for The Good Racing Company.
The horse has been named We’ve Got This by Graham’s wife, Becky, who posted this message of determination on social media shortly after the accident. It is hoped We’ve Got This will race for the first time in May.
The club was launched this week (Wednesday, April 3) at the Eboracum Racing Stables in Easingwold, where the horse will be trained free of charge by Craig Lidster and his team. Graham's daughter Amy and son Robbie joined supporters at the launch.
Amy, said: It was really special seeing everyone there to support dad, there were so many old and new faces. It's nice to see something so positive coming out of such a horrible situation."
She gave a "huge shout out" to Craig Lidster and everyone else providing their services to help her father, adding: "It's been amazing."
Graham, 48, was a highly successful jump jockey, based in the north of England for most of his career, winning the 2004 Grand National on board Amberleigh House.
He switched to riding on the flat in 2014, where he achieved more success, including winning the Ascot Gold Cup on Trip To Paris in 2015.
He is presently being treated at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough. Amy said Graham's family is hoping he'll be discharged soon and hope, ultimately, he'll be able to return to his North Yorkshire home.
"It's been tough," said Amy, "But the four of us keep each other going and the goal is to get him home and make the best possible situation out of the cards we've been dealt."
The Good Racing Company was set up in October 2020 following rugby player Rob Burrow’s Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis. Its aim was to tap into the passion of the racing community to raise money for an athlete facing life changing news. To date, it has raised more than £185,000 for MND causes.
Graham, 48, said: “I’m really humbled that a fundraising racing club has been set up in my honour, and that Paul Hanagan has chosen the horse for me. I’ve been shown videos of the horse and she looks very promising.
"No pressure Paul, but I hope you’ve picked a winner."
The Graham Lee Racing Club will give annual membership for just £17, in a nod to the new social media G.Lee17 account launched by his family following the accident.
Paul Hanagan added: “Graham and I were weighing room colleagues for over 12 years. I feel blessed to count him as a good friend. He’s a true gent who has time for everyone. The Graham Lee Racing Club is a chance for everyone to help Graham and his wonderful family.
“It was an honour to select the horse for Graham. We’ve Got This caught my eye quite early on, she’s a beautiful-looking filly with a wonderful temperament.”
Phil Hawthorne, founder of The Good Racing Company says: “Tragedies like Graham’s accident are one of the reasons we set up The Good Racing Company. We want to be able to tap into the racing community’s desire to help by offering them something that’s beyond a one-off charitable donation.
“Through our fundraising I hope we can make the lives of the Lee family easier as they work towards bringing Graham home.”
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Annual memberships to The Graham Lee Racing Club can be purchased from the website thegoodracing.co.
Members get regular racing updates, a smart digital membership pack which includes a photo of We’ve Got This, a thank you letter from Graham and a certificate of membership. They are also given the opportunity to attend stable experiences, race days and networking events.
The Graham Lee Racing Club is being supported by a host of high-profile Good Racing Co ambassadors. These include jockey-turned-broadcaster and great friend of Graham, Niall Hannity, and broadcaster Adele Mulrennan.
To enable all of the money raised to go directly to Graham, The Good Racing Company has secured generous partnerships with businesses and suppliers. Alfa Site Services donated We’ve Got This for free. Meanwhile Craig Lidster Racing, Minster Vets and Spiller’s Feeds will be providing all training, veterinary support and feed for free.
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