A DALES restaurant has donated £1,000 to the Injured Jockey Fund after a special lunch.

The Wensleydale Heifer, an AA five star restaurant with rooms in West Witton, hosted the charity lunch for local people from the racing world on Cheltenham Gold Cup day, with a large cinema screen in the restaurant so guests could watch the races.

The Wensleydale Heifer also donated prizes for raffle, including lunch for 10, a special lunch with the Wensleydale Heifer’s sommelier and a cooking session with the Heifer’s head chef, Craig Keenan.

The Injured Jockey’s Fund has provided medical, financial and pastoral care for over 1,000 jockeys and continues to support more than 500 jockeys a year. When the fund was set up, jockeys had no way to claim compensation following life changing injuries; it continues to campaign to raise awareness of the risks involved in racing.

David Moss, co-owner of the Wensleydale Heifer, said: “We believe it is very important for us to support our community and local charities.

“The Injured Jockeys Fund is a cause which is prominent in the area, and we’re happy to do anything we can to help with the charity’s fantastic work.”