IRISH Injured Jockeys [IIJ] has secured planning permission to build a seven-figure jockey rehabilitation and services centre at its base just outside Kildare town.

The project will sit alongside Horse Racing Ireland’s [HRI] proposed ‘people campus’ which will be the new industry training centre, promised to be in place by 2028.

IIJ general manager Michael Higgins said: “We are delighted with the facilities we have at the moment for jockeys. We have two physiotherapists and strength and conditioning experts, a dietician and access to counsellors. We plan to add to those services when we have more room.”

The IIJ’s new base will still be in the grounds of Curragh House on Kildare’s Dublin Road. Higgins explained: “There is a barn near the car parking area and we intend to transform half of that into a rehab centre and gymnasium. There will be treatment rooms and also social meeting rooms for jockeys and retired riders, who can drop in.”

Office space will be available for the IIJ and it is possible that HRI’s Equuip department, which has a lot of crossover with IIJ, could be based there too.

Higgins said the new facility was designed following extensive discussions with Britain’s Injured Jockeys Fund [IJF]. “I have a super relationship with Lisa Hancock, who is my counterpart in the IJF. We are modelling our facility on what they have at Jack Berry House in Malton in Yorkshire and Oaksey House in Newmarket.

“We’re lucky in that we don’t have to break earth for our build and we have the money to do it. We are a registered charity and we are blessed to have such great support from the industry and general public at all levels.

“We receive €200,000 per year from the Association of Irish Racecourses and €40,000 from the Jockeys Emergency Fund. Every fundraiser, big or small, is important to us and we have one anonymous supporter who has been extremely generous to us.”

If no objections are received in the next 28 days, the IIJ hopes to put out a tender for the work as soon as possible. “We’d be hopeful work could start in June,” Higgins said. “All going well, it’s a 16-week job so it’s possible we could be moving in by November.”

Top jump jockeys Jack Kennedy and Rachael Blackmore praised the IIJ facilities for helping them to recover quickly from serious injuries this season.

“Jack and Rachael definitely would not have been back as quickly as they were without what we have at the moment,” Higgins said. “Our facilities are very professional but they are minute compared to what we will have in the future. It will be much more pleasing to the eye.”

Wayne Middleton is the strength and conditioning coach used by both the IIJ and equuip, and he is supported by physios Gavin Egan and Alannah Reville. Grace Miller provides dietary advice.