Story by Alan Jacques
A WELSH racecourse has raised £100,000 for the care of Limerick jockey JT McNamara who suffered paralysis after a fall at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Ffos Las Racecourse raised the money last weekend through prize auctions and a raffle during its final racing day of the year.
Among the prizes auctioned at the Carmarthenshire racecourse were: a hospitality box for 12 people at Anfield football stadium for Liverpool v Swansea City in February 2014; a trip to the Hippodrome casino in London; a visit to Ballydoyle racing stables in Tipperary, and a day’s hunting with Limerick Harriers, donated by JT’s father.
The total on the day was just shy of the six-figure amount, so Ffos Las chairman Dai Walters, who arranged the array of superb prizes for the auction, topped up the amount to a round figure.
“We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to raise such a sum of money to help JT McNamara and his family. We are indebted to the many very generous bidders in the auction and also most grateful to race-goers who dipped into their pockets to buy raffle tickets on Sunday,” said Mr Walters.
McNamara was left paralysed after he suffered a fall from Galaxy Rock in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The Limerick jockey is continuing his rehabilitation at a specialist spinal injuries unit on Merseyside following his transfer from hospital in Dublin.
“What happened to JT at the Cheltenham Festival was a terrible accident and at Ffos Las we hope that in a small way we will be able to contribute to his treatment and care,” said Mr Walters.
One of the prizes was a morning on the gallops and breakfast with champion jump racing trainer Nicky Henderson, including an overnight stay at The Pheasant near to his Berkshire stables. The champion trainer offered the runner-up in the bidding the same prize too – and effectively doubled the amount raised.
