Graham Lee remains determined and hopeful following the life-changing injuries he sustained in a fall last year, with the Grand National-winning jockey set to be honoured in next week’s Leger Legends race at Doncaster.
Lee, who has also achieved Group One success on the Flat, suffered a severe spinal injury when he was unseated leaving the starting stalls at Newcastle last November.
In support of Lee, a JustGiving page established by his daughter, Amy, for the Injured Jockeys Fund has raised over £200,000. Additionally, April saw the launch of the Graham Lee Racing Club.
The Graham Lee Vickers. Bet Leger Legends Classified Stakes is a key event on the final day of the St Leger meeting, scheduled for Sunday week. The race features former jockeys returning to the saddle to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund and the National Racing College.
A charity golf event was held on Monday ahead of the race, where Lee’s son, Robbie, provided an update on his father’s condition.
"There’s been a great turnout, which is encouraging, and it’s good to see people coming together to support him," Robbie told Sky Sports Racing.
"Graham is doing OK. We recently had a break at Oaksey House for the week, which he really enjoyed. He’s keeping up with his physiotherapy and remains determined. A change of scenery helps him clear his mind and gives him a much-needed reset."
When asked about the possibility of his father writing a book about his illustrious career, Robbie added, "We hope his story isn’t over yet—there’s still more to come. He remains a fighter and will continue to push forward for as long as he can."
Andrew Thornton, Lee’s friend and former weighing-room colleague who has ridden over 1,000 winners himself, is one of the organisers of the Leger Legends event. He expressed his pride that the race will bear Lee’s name on September 15.
"Graham has ridden 2,000 winners across both codes, which is an incredible achievement," Thornton said. "It’s heartbreaking what has happened, but we’re all rallying behind him and doing everything we can to support him. This event benefits the National Racing College, the Injured Jockeys Fund, and Jack Berry House. Graham has given his blessing for us to name it after him this year. Graham was always a consummate professional. After a serious accident at Huntingdon, he decided to switch from jumps to Flat racing. He’s a fantastic character and a great person. It’s tough for him, but we’re doing all we can to help. Every jockey rides with the risk of accidents. Unfortunately, they do happen, and we must make the best of these situations. It’s a challenging journey for the entire family, one they didn’t expect, but we’re all here to support them and keep their spirits high."
Thornton also revealed some of the notable names participating in the Leger Legends race this year: "We have past winners Sammy-Jo Bell and Brian Harding taking part, and Meg Nicholls will be back in the saddle. Gerald Mosse is coming over from France, along with Tom Scudamore. Richard Johnson will be competing again, and we also have an Irish contingent including Mark Enright, Bryan Cooper, and David Mullins—another Grand National-winning rider."