Graham Lee Honored at Leger Legends Race as He Battles Back from Life-Changing Injuries

Graham Lee, the Grand National-winning jockey and former Group One victor on the Flat, continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience as he recovers from the life-changing spinal injury he suffered in a fall last year. Lee, who was unseated at the starting stalls in Newcastle in November, has been on a challenging road to recovery, but his fighting spirit remains undiminished.

In recognition of his outstanding career and his ongoing battle, Lee will be honored at next week’s Leger Legends race at Doncaster. The event, which features retired jockeys returning to the saddle to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) and the National Racing College, will see the race named the Graham Lee Vickers.Bet Leger Legends Classified Stakes.

The Leger Legends race is one of the highlights of the final day of the St Leger meeting on September 15, and this year’s edition will carry special significance as the racing community rallies behind Lee. A charity golf event was held in his honor earlier this week, with Lee’s son, Robbie, providing an update on his father’s progress.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Robbie Lee shared that his father is maintaining his determination despite the challenges he faces. “He’s doing OK. We’ve had a getaway at Oaksey House for the week, and he’s enjoyed that. He’s doing well and keeping his physio going constant, so he’s not giving up,” Robbie said. “It does help him getting a change of scenery and really gives him a reset and helps clear his mind.”

The racing world has shown immense support for Lee, with a JustGiving page initially set up by his daughter, Amy, raising over £200,000 for the IJF. In April, the Graham Lee Racing Club was launched, further highlighting the admiration and respect he commands within the sport.

Andrew Thornton, a friend and former weighing-room colleague of Lee’s, is one of the key organizers of the Leger Legends event. Thornton, who himself rode over 1,000 winners, expressed his pride in having the race named after Lee this year. “He’s ridden 2,000 winners under both codes, it’s remarkable,” Thornton said. “It’s obviously very sad what happened, but we’re all behind him, and we’re all doing what we can for him.”

Thornton, who has witnessed firsthand the challenges Lee faces, emphasized the importance of supporting Lee and his family during this difficult time. “It’s a journey the whole family are on, not a journey that they expected they’d be on. Your life gets turned upside down, and it’s difficult, but we all rally round and do what we can to help and keep everyone in as good spirits as possible.”

The Leger Legends race will feature an impressive lineup of past jockeys, including former winners Sammy-Jo Bell and Brian Harding, as well as Meg Nicholls, Gerald Mosse, Tom Scudamore, and Richard Johnson. The race will also see a strong Irish contingent, with Grand National-winning rider David Mullins, Mark Enright, and Bryan Cooper set to participate.

As the racing community comes together to support Lee, the Leger Legends race will serve as a powerful reminder of the camaraderie and resilience that define the sport. Despite the setbacks he has faced, Graham Lee’s story is far from over, and his determination to keep fighting is an inspiration to all.