LEGENDARY horse trainer Jack Berry has realised his dream of creating a £3.1m rehabilitation centre for injured jockeys in North Yorkshire.

The finishing touches are currently being put to the Injured Jockey Fund (IJF) centre in Malton - just six years after the opening of the first such centre in Lambourn, Berkshire.

Mr Berry, who is vice-president of the IJF, was integral to the creation of Oaksey House in Lambourne and once that opened in 2009 he set about his mission to open a similar venture in the North of England.

He said: “I knew how important it was that we have a rehabilitation centre for jockeys in the north – Malton is a great place for racing - there are yards here with more than 100 horses and is growing massively."

Mr Berry has been involved with IJF since its conception in 1964 when he rattled buckets at race days around the country to raise funds for close friend Paddy Farrell, who suffered a bad fall and was paralysed from the chest down.

The fundraising spiralled and soon they were raising cash for other injured jockeys, and it eventually became the Injured Jockey Fund.

“Everyone in the racing community looks after each other – it really is wonderful,” he said.

“And now we have this fantastic centre in Malton that will help so many injured jockeys, but also jockeys in training and wanting to improve fitness.”

Funds have been raised through a number of donations, including more than 2,000 from people who bought a brick at £50 each which are displayed on external walls of the centre.

Facilities include four respite rooms and shared dining areas, the Al Shaqab boardroom, the Don’t Push It gym and changing and shower areas, linking through to the Reuben Foundation Hydrotherapy Pool – one of only three in the country.

Margaret Wilson, mother of young jockey Jan Wilson who died aged 19 in 2009 in an arson fire, has donated cash for an equicizer – a mechanical horse for injured jockeys to build up strength.

Mr Berry said: “It’s a fantastic bit of kit. I’ve had a go myself and it really helps with my bad back.

“There’s a television that shows you how you are moving, water jets to give resistance, and a massage feature. It’s going to make a real difference.”

The centre is now open, Mr Berry said he was looking forward to showing off the completed facility to the Princess Royal, patron of IJF, on June 2 for the official opening.

Mr Berry added: “I’m so proud of the centre, and everyone who has worked so hard to fundraise to get us here. It should be called Our House because of the thousands of people who have donated and made it possible.”