OVER £100,000 was raised on a poignant day’s racing at Wincanton last Sunday, held in memory of the late Keagan Kirkby.

Kirkby, 25, who worked for Paul Nicholls in nearby Ditcheat, tragically died in a fall at Charing point-to-point in February.

His death had a profound impact on the racing community, both in the area and further afield, and the seven-race card at Wincanton on Sunday was hosted to celebrate his life and raise money for both Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund.

There was a charity race named in his honour, which was contested by many of his friends and eventually won by bloodstock agent and former jockey Tom Malone aboard Joe Tizzard’s Alexei.

Malone - who lost a significant amount of weight to ride in the race – raised £35,000 personally for the cause and in second and third place were two of Keagan’s closest friends, Joe Wroe and Alfie Shalliker.

In total, the raceday raised an estimated £116,000, which will be split equally between Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund.