Injured jockeys in the north of England will have somewhere to recover when a new rehabilitation centre opens in North Yorkshire.
Jack Berry House in Malton is set to cost around £3.5million and will be the Injured Jockeys Fund’s (IJF) second rehabilitation centre.
Work is planned to start in October this year, with the aim of opening Jack Berry House in autumn 2014 – the year of the IJF’s 50th anniversary.
Planning permission for the centre, which will be built on land bought from the Fitzwilliam Trust, was granted on 12 March by Ryedale District Council.
“I’ve always wanted better facilities for jockeys,” said Jack Berry, vice president of the IJF. “For this to now be happening in Malton is a dream come true.”
Jockey Graham Lee believes that the new centre will be of great benefit to jockeys based in the north of the country.
“We can’t wait for it to open,” he said.
The charity already provides treatment for jockeys at existing centre Oaksey House in Lambourn, which opened in 2009.
“The great thing about Oaksey House was that both the local and wider community got behind it,” said Brough Scott, H&H columnist and chairman of the IJF.
“I am confident the same thing can happen with Jack Berry House as we now embark on a co-ordinated fundraising drive.”
To raise funds for the centre, injured former jockey and trainer Chris Kinane walked in public for the first time at Fontwell racecourse last October.
Fundraising enquiries should be directed to Lisa Hancock, chief executive of the IJF – lh@ijf.org.uk, 01638 662246.
Visit www.injuredjockeys.co.uk
