by A horse called ‘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 horrific accident.
Graham Lee, from Bedale in North Yorkshire, came unseated from his horse Ben Macdui in Newcastle in November last year, suffering an unstable cervical fracture and damage to his spinal cord.
Now, members of The Graham Lee Racing Club – created by The Good Racing Company – will be able to follow the two-year-old’s non-racing career. The horse was chosen specifically for Graham by fellow jockey Paul Hanagan, director of racing at The Good Racing Company.
We’ve Got This Jockey Willie Pyke put him through his paces (Image: BIG BANG PR)
The horse is named We’ve Got This by Graham’s wife, Becky, who posted this message of determination on social media shortly after the accident. We’ve Got This is expected to race for the first time in May.
The club was launched this week (Wednesday, April 3) at Eboracum Racing Stables in Easingwold, where the horse will be trained for free by Craig Lidster and his team. Graham’s daughter Amy and son Robbie were joined at the launch.
Amy said: It was really special to see everyone there to support dad, there were so many old and new faces. It’s nice to see something so positive come out of such a terrible situation.”
Amy Lee with We’ve Got This at Craig Lidster Racing stables in Easingwold (Image: BIG BANG PR)
She gave Craig Lidster and everyone else who provided their services to help her father a “huge thumbs up”, adding: “It’s been fantastic.”
Graham, 48, was a highly successful jumps jockey, based in the north of England for most of his career, who won the 2004 Grand National aboard Amberleigh House.
He switched to riding on the flat in 2014, where he enjoyed more success, including winning the Ascot Gold Cup on Trip To Paris in 2015.
Graham Lee on a Trip to Paris to win the Ascot Gold Cup (Image: BIG BANG PR)
He is currently being treated at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough. Amy said Graham’s family hope he will be released soon and that they hope he will eventually be able to return to his home in North Yorkshire.
“It’s been tough,” said Amy, “but the four of us keep each other going and the goal is to make it home and make the best of the cards we’ve been dealt.”
Graham after the accident, surrounded by his supportive family (Image: BIG BANG PR)
The Good Racing Company was formed in October 2020 following the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis of rugby player Rob Burrow. It aimed to harness the passion of the racing community to raise money for an athlete facing life-changing news. To date, he has raised more than £185,000 for MND causes.
Graham, 48, said: “I’m delighted that a fundraising racing club has been set up in my honour, and that Paul Hanagan has chosen the horse for me. I was shown videos of the horse and she looks very promising.
“No pressure Paul, but I hope you have chosen a winner.”
Graham Lee Racing Club will offer just £17 for annual membership, in a nod to the new G.Lee17 social media account launched by his family following the accident.
Adele Mulrennan, Paul Hanagan, We’ve Got This, Willie Pyke, Craig Lidster and Phil Hawthorne launch The Graham Lee Racing Club (Image: BIG BANG PR)
Paul Hanagan added: “Graham and I have been weighing roommates for over 12 years. I feel blessed to count him as a good friend. He is a real man who has time for everyone. The Graham Lee Racing Club is an opportunity for everyone to help Graham and his wonderful family.
“It was a great honor to choose the horse for Graham. We’ve Got This caught my eye quite early, she looks beautiful and has a great attitude.”
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 is never a charitable donation.
“Through our fundraising I hope we can make life easier for the Lee family as they work towards bringing Graham home.”
Most read:
Don’t miss out on the latest news and stories. Subscribe to The Northern Echo for £2 for two months.
Annual membership to the Graham Lee Racing Club can be purchased from thegoodracing.co website.
Members receive regular racing updates, a smart digital membership pack containing a photo of We’ve Got This, a thank you letter from Graham and a membership certificate. They are also given the opportunity to attend stable experiences, race days and networking events.
Graham Lee Racing Club is being supported by high profile Good Racing Co ambassadors. Among them are jockey-turned-broadcaster and great friend of Graham, Niall Hannity, and broadcaster Adele Mulrennan.
To enable all funds raised to go directly to Graham, The Good Racing Company has secured generous partnerships with businesses and suppliers. Awarded Alpha Site Services We have this for free. Meanwhile Craig Lidster Racing, Minster Vets and Spiller’s Feeds will be providing all the training, veterinary support and feed for free.
Amy and Robbie Lee share a kiss from We’ve Got This (Image: BIG BANG PR)
