Hundreds of individuals turned out to have fun the lifetime of younger rider Keagan Kirkby as a charity race run in his honour raised round £116,000 at Wincanton (27 October).
Keagan, 25, died following a fall at a point-to-point at Charing, Kent, in February.
A dozen riders, together with a few of Keagan’s shut mates, took half within the charity race on the Keagan Kirkby Raceday. The six-figure sum will probably be cut up between the Injured Jockeys Fund and Racing Welfare.
Bloodstock agent and former jockey Tom Malone gained aboard Alexei for Joe Tizzard and Brocade Racing, and was additionally the highest fundraiser within the race, contributing £35,800.
Keagan’s mates – Joe Wroe driving Recoded for Harry Derham, and Alfie Shalliker driving Fasol for Paul Nicholls – took second and third place respectively.
Alfie, who lived with Keagan, mentioned: “I miss him daily and the world’s a sadder place with out him. Immediately is good, he’d find it irresistible, it’s what he deserves. It was very emotional, but it surely’s a celebration greater than unhappiness as a result of he was an important man and we’ll have fun that as we speak.
“It makes you are feeling good, proud as a result of I’m driving in his reminiscence. It was flat out the entire approach I’d say, however I had an excellent time and I loved it. He in all probability would’ve instructed me that I’d accomplished every thing flawed!”
Keagan was a piece rider for coach Mr Nicholls, who paid tribute to the late jockey on the day.
“It’s exhausting to place into phrases the opening that Keagan left in all our lives actually, to his household, to the entire staff at Ditcheat,” he mentioned.
He added that Racing Welfare, significantly Lucinda Gould who used to work for Mr Nicholls, “performed an enormous half” in taking care of these grieving.
“Racing Welfare does an terrible lot for lots of people,” mentioned Mr Nicholls. “You want that, they pulled everyone by way of; they’re an important assist to everyone within the trade, not simply stud and steady employees – anyone in racing. And the Injured Jockeys Fund as everyone knows do a unbelievable job and the extra money we will increase for them the higher.”
Racing Welfare chief government Daybreak Goodfellow mentioned: “The Wincanton racing neighborhood had been very eager to do one thing in reminiscence of Keagan. Clearly, the yard at Paul Nicholls’ and Keagan’s household have had a variety of assist each from Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund and all the neighborhood down right here appreciated that and needed to do one thing in his reminiscence to present one thing again.
“As Lisa Hancock [CEO of the Injured Jockeys Fund] mentioned, it simply felt as if the entire of the west nation was there and rooting for the 2 charities.“Occasions like this increase a lot wanted funds so we will be there for all of racing’s folks, 12 months of the yr, for psychological and bodily well being, monetary assist, housing, and supply vital incident assist at occasions of disaster as we did for Keagan’s mates and colleagues.
“It was a unbelievable day and we wish to prolong our grateful because of Wincanton racecourse, the committee who’ve accomplished such an exquisite job, the charity riders and naturally all of the sponsors.”
Blaithin Murphy, normal supervisor at Wincanton racecourse, added that it was “an honour” to host its charity raceday in Keagan’s reminiscence,” mentioned Ms Murphy.
“Keagan was a much-loved member of our area people, and we’re very proud to have been in a position to welcome so a lot of his family and friends to the course to have fun his life.
“The racing neighborhood are good at coming collectively to assist each other when occasions are exhausting, and we’re delighted such a unbelievable amount of cash has been raised for Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund.”
Anybody wishing so as to add their assist can nonetheless accomplish that by texting KEAGAN to 70085 to donate £10.
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Credit score: Future
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H&H senior information author
Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound staff in 2015, Lucy has reported from main world sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call just a few. She has lined present affairs and sports activities information throughout the total spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, trade information and courtroom instances.
