Jockey Graham Lee, who was injured in a fall on leaving the stalls in a race at Newcastle on Friday evening, has been diagnosed with an unstable cervical fracture and remains in intensive care at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in the city.
The 47-year-old has damage to his spinal cord and other complications. His condition has been described as “very serious.”
On Monday, his former weighing-room colleague Sir Anthony McCoy and Jack Berry, respectively president and vice-president of the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), released a joint-statement which read, “Like everyone in racing, we at the Injured Jockeys Fund are devastated at the news of the injuries that Graham Lee sustained from his horrific fall at Newcastle on Friday. All our thoughts are with Graham, his wife Becky, and their family.
“As bad as Graham's injuries are, please do rest assured that our team at the IJF will look after his needs to assist him in his recovery and predicament for as long as it takes. Whatever help his family needs, we will be there to there to provide it.”
A former jump jockey with more than 1,000 wins to his name, including the 2004 Grand National aboard Amberleigh House (Ire), the Irish-born, British-based Lee turned his attention to the Flat in 2012. His major wins in this sphere include the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Trip To Paris (Ire) and the Nunthorpe S. with Alpha Delphini (GB).
Julie Harrington, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, added her support to Lee. She said, “We are shocked to hear the distressing news regarding the injuries suffered by Graham Lee. Our thoughts are with his family and friends and the whole sport is praying for one of its finest ambassadors. We are doing everything we can to support Graham and his family, and we ask that everyone respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
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