Amy Lee is in her element. April 3rd marked 20 years since her father Graham rode the Grand National winner and she is hearing all sorts of stories about Amberleigh House, successful bets and memories that will last a lifetime. Her smile is contagious.
“I love meeting people who know Dad,” says Amy, who is 19 and studying musical theater. ‘Everyone has their own interesting stories and everyone has been very keen to help. Dad is just dad to me. I never really realized how incredible of a jockey he was.
It really was. Lee occupies a place in racing that will be his alone forever, the only man to partner with the winner of the biggest race in the world and then change the codes of National Hunt racing to become a flat jockey who won the Gold Cup, the largest at Royal Ascot. career.
But on November 11 last year, Lee suffered a fall in Newcastle which left him with life-changing injuries, paralyzed from the neck down. The impact on Amy, her brother Robbie and her wife Becky has been unimaginable, but on this particular morning, in a stable on the outskirts of York, she is happily distracted.
There are plenty of familiar faces here, including reigning champion jump jockey Brian Hughes, all out to see the Graham Lee Racing Club, launched by The Good Racing Co, and the young filly named We’ve Got This, who has been signed for running. for him by his long-time friend and colleague Paul Hanagan.
Graham Lee suffered life-changing injuries after he was knocked down in the Newcastle stalls last year (pictured with daughter Amy, wife Becky and son Robbie).
Wednesday marked 20 years since Lee’s victory in the Grand National aboard Amberleigh House.
In 2015, Lee became the first Grand National-winning jockey to code-switch and win the Ascot Gold Cup.
We’ve Got This is expected to debut sometimes towards the end of May. She will be trained by Craig Lidster, who does not charge a dime for her services. All veterinary and food costs have also been covered, allowing all the money We’ve Got This earns to go directly to Lee.
You can also participate. Annual membership to the Graham Lee Racing Club costs £17 and seeing We’ve Got This breeze elegantly around Lidster’s gallop in any weather, it certainly has the range and potential to provide some fun.
“It’s so nice to have something so positive come out of something so horrible,” Amy says. ‘When we created a Just Giving page for dad, the target was £100; last week it reached £200,000, which is crazy! I never expected that.
‘I have always told dad that every time he has a negative thought there is a donation to show him, he has to keep going, there are so many people behind him. When he had his bad days we sat there and read all the lovely messages and he always makes us smile.”
This is the first time Amy has spoken publicly about the episode, but she carries herself impeccably, with grace and warmth.
“A lot of people have come to see him or contacted him to send him a message. It’s been very nice and has really kept dad going,” he continues. ‘The world goes on, but for the four of us we are still on November 11. Time has simply stood still since then. Everyone has moved on, as they should.
Lee’s family have raised more than £200,000 for his care after setting up a Just Giving page following his tragic accident.
“But it’s good that people still care right now, five months later.” They still show up, call and text.
There is a reason for this. Lee held a unique position in the weighing room. She was a guiding light to his colleagues, an inspiration who set standards that demanded those around him follow them. His discipline was that of a monk, his physical fitness and determination to live properly were Olympic standards.
That is why support has come from all areas. Sir Anthony McCoy visits us at least twice a week. Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has provided support to the family; Francis Jeffers, former Everton, Arsenal and England striker, was also present.
“While I was a jockey, I was always thinking about the next thing,” Amy says. “When he won the National Championship, I was just thinking, ‘I’ve got to go to Hexham now.’ He never really got to celebrate, but since his accident he’s done a lot of reflecting and we’ve pulled out the old photos and videos.
‘When his friends and fellow riders come to see him, they reflect on races from years ago and his memory is incredibly sharp. I think he’s starting to understand that: “You know what, actually, I think he was fine. I don’t think he did that bad of a job.”
‘I always thought a lot about him, but another jockey told me, ‘He’s like God… he’s like everyone wants to be.’ It’s very nice to hear something like that. I wish I could be half of that person.’
Lee held a unique position in the weighing room and his strength of character has been reflected in the continued support of the racing community.
She is doing incredibly well (the whole family is) and one thing they will not lack is support. Hanagan, in particular, is determined for We Got This to provide some levity over the summer, but more than anything, he wants to help.
Their ambition is to replicate the success The Good Racing Co has had by raising money through The Rob Burrow Racing Club, which has donated more than £185,000 to MND Causes. Hanagan, who retired last August at York, looks at Lee’s plight through a different prism.
“It’s a great quote that Amy says about Graham being seen as God,” Hanagan says. “Everyone had an incredibly high opinion of him, but I’m not sure he ever realized that. We were about the same age and got along very well.
“I realize everything because I broke my back in a fall in Newcastle a couple of years ago and I know how lucky I was to come out of this safely. Now every time I see him I say ‘yes, you’re a legend.’ “I hope you know there are people there to support you.”
For more information visit www.thegoodracing.co/graham-lee-racing-club