The total donations to charitable causes from The Good Racing Company now stands at over £250,000
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The Good Racing Company has made its first charity donation of £40,000 to injured jockey, Graham Lee, bringing the total donations now raised by the pioneering Good Racing Company to over £250,000.
The Graham Lee Racing Club was launched by The Good Racing Company in April 2024 to raise money for Graham by selling club memberships in its charity horse, We’ve Got This. Graham developed life changing injuries in November 2023 after becoming unseated at Newcastle Racecourse.
The donation was made on Sunday May 4 in front of more than 130 guests and Good Racing Company members to the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), which has ringfenced the money specifically for Graham.
The Good Racing Company’s Director of Racing Paul Hanagan and CEO Phil Hawthorne made a cheque presentation at Eboracum Racing Stables, in North Yorkshire. The pair handed the £40,000 cheque to Graham Lee, his wife Becky and family alongside Sophie Phillips, Lead Clinician at Jack Berry House Rehabilitation and Fitness Centre.
On the day, The Good Racing Company also surprised Graham by reuniting him with Trip to Paris, the horse on which he won the Ascot Gold Cup in 2015. It was an emotional moment that brought many onlookers to tears.
Graham Lee said: “Meeting Trip to Paris again was so unexpected and so emotional. He’s as full character now he was then. The whole day was immense, and it was amazing to see firsthand the work that The Good Racing Company does. I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks for the £40,000 that it raised to help me continue my rehabilitation.”
Members of the Graham Lee Racing Club have been following the progress of three-year-old filly, We’ve Got This, chosen specifically for Graham by Paul Hanagan. The horse was named We’ve Got This by Graham’s wife, Becky, who posted the phrase in a message of determination on social media shortly after Graham’s accident. We’ve Got This raced five times last year and placed on four occasions. She has made an encouraging reappearance and is set to win races this year under trainer Ivan Furtado.
Director of Racing at The Good Racing Company Paul Hanagan said “It was very emotional handing over the donation to Graham and his family. Graham and I were weighing room colleagues for over 12 years and I feel blessed to count him as a good friend. This donation will give Graham much needed and life enhancing treatment and equipment.”
Phil Hawthorne, founder of The Good Racing Company says: “The Good Racing Company would like to thank all of the members, supporters and business partners for their continued support that has helped us achieve this fantastic charity donation.”
Annual memberships to The Graham Lee Racing Club can be purchased from the website thegoodracing.co. For less than 95p a week (£49 per year) members get regular racing updates, a membership pack which includes a photo of We’ve Got This, a thank you letter from Graham and a certificate of membership. They are also given the opportunity to attend stable experiences, race days and networking events.
The Graham Lee Racing Club is being supported by a host of high-profile Good Racing Co ambassadors and suppliers, all eager to support Graham and his family in any way they can. These include jockey-turned-broadcaster and great friend of Graham, Niall Hannity, broadcaster Adele Mulrennan, Mike Cattermole, Simon Mapletoft and Greg Cunningham, amongst many others. A special thanks must go to Alfa Site Services and Eboracum Racing Stables, which continue to provide such fantastic support.
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For further information please contact Sam Jones on sam@bigbangpr.co.uk / 07531 625233
About The Good Racing Company
The Good Racing Company was formed in October 2020 by entrepreneur and racing enthusiast Phil Hawthorne as an innovative way to fundraise for Rob Burrow after the former Leeds Rhinos star announced he was living with MND. To date it has raised over £250,000 for charities including MND causes, Racing Welfare, Racing2School and the Injured Jockeys Fund. The Good Racing Company now has twelve racehorses in its stable. Lindsey Burrow remains a patron along with Rob’s former playing colleague Barrie McDermott. Hanagan became The Good Racing Co’s Director of Racing in August 2023