Riders announced for the Injured Jockeys Fund special charity race to celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The Injured Jockeys Fund announced last month that there will be a special charity race taking place at Newbury Racecourse on Al Shaqab Lockinge Day, Saturday 14May 2022, to celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The 10-furlong race will be the first on the card.  

Lisa Hancock, CEO of the IJF said: “We were completely overwhelmed with the number of excellent applications we had for the race and are delighted with our final line-up which we hope covers all areas of the country and industry. All riders have fantastic back stories and reasons for supporting us and we can’t wait to work with them all preparing for this special race to celebrate HM The Queen and everything she has done for our sport.”

The full list of riders are:

• Nicola Baker, 33, is a former amateur rider and fulltime parent and wife to former jockey George Baker, who suffered a career ending fall in 2017. This race offers Nicola the opportunity to support the charity that was so key to George’s recovery in the aftermath of his accident. 

• Levi Capell, 21, from Luton attended the BRS two years ago and since graduation has spent two years with the William Haggas team in Newmarket.  Soon he will join George Scott. Levi is supported by BHA jockey coach, Michael Hills, and would love to take out his licence one day.

• Simon Elliott, 40, is a plasterer from Winchester, now based in Andover.  A conditional jockey from the early 2000s before retiring due to injury, Simon is an IJF beneficiary who wants to ride in the race to give something back to the charity that has helped him so much throughout his life. 

• Shane Francis, 32, is a farrier originally from Bournemouth but now based in Sussex. He was an apprentice to Stevie Fisher, who has recently written a book ‘Blinking ‘Ell’ about his life before and after locked-in syndrome.  Shane started riding four years ago and working around racehorses on a daily basis, is keen to have a go himself and raise money for the IJF in the process.

• Alexandra Haggard, 42, is a Head of Investment, now living in Wiltshire but from the USA. She has evented all of her life, started riding out for Alan King last year, and is keen to ride in a race. She was previously a founder of the Diversity Project Charity and is keen to utilise her skills to the benefit of the IJF. 

• Benson Kattenhorn, 25, is a soldier from Essex now resident at Hyde Park Barracks. After working in racing for six years, he went on to join the Household Cavalry as a riding instructor from where he is keen to take out his Category A licence. The race gives him the opportunity to represent HM The Queen’s forces and pursue his dream to race ride.

• Jaydon Lee, 20, is a stable lad from Leamington, now based in Lambourn. Having no background in racing, Jaydon became a BRS graduate and has been working for Nicky Henderson for three years. He is the regular rider for stable stars Shishkin and Constitution Hill. Jaydon was also a finalist in the Newcomer category at the 2021 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.
  
• Annie Mania, 31, is a work rider from Scotland for her stepfather, Sandy Thomson. Married to jockey Ryan Mania she knows only too well of the work the IJF does and is desperate to support by being involved in this race.

• Ryan Newhook, 36, is a builder from Gloucestershire. He started riding 10 years ago, owns ex-racer ‘Splash of Ginge’ who he is now team chasing with and rides out in his spare time for JonJo O’Neill. 

• Charlie Richards, 21, is a work rider and groom at Andrew Balding’s yard. He was brought up in Surrey, didn’t start riding until he was 16, and is a hugely popular member of the Balding team. His dream is to ride in a race, which for him, is now about to come true!

• Hannah Roche, 36, is a PA from Somerset. She has worked for Paul Nicholls for many years and is keen to raise money for the IJF, which she says is a charity that “has massively supported someone we all know at some point.”  

• Isabel Spearman, 43, is a brand consultant from Wiltshire. She has a very personal connection to the IJF as the daughter in law of Lady Oaksey. She rides regularly and is passionate about the IJF. 

Julian Thick, Chief Executive of Newbury Racecourse said: “We are looking forward to hosting this very special charity race here at Newbury on Al Shaqab Lockinge Day and the line-up of riders looks very competitive, and we wish them the best of luck with their training. In celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee, we too will be marking the occasion across the day.”