THE racing community has rallied to support jockey Graham Lee this week after the Galway native suffered a serious injury following an unseat from his horse at the beginning of a race at Newcastle last Friday.

As of yesterday evening, over £125,000 had been raised on a JustGiving page set up by his daughter Amy with numerous high profile figures within the industry coming out to issue support to Lee and his family. The money raised will be administered by the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Lee was taken into intensive care at the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle last Friday night and has been held in the intensive therapy unit since in order to stabilise fractures in his spine and further protect his spinal cord. He underwent surgery on Tuesday and was reported to be recovering well though his long-term recovery remains an uncertain prognosis.

Yesterday evening the Injured Jockeys Fund provided a further update, in which he is described as having made “positive progress”.

The IJF update read: “Graham has made positive progress in the last 24 hours and has been able to talk normally with his family for short periods when his ventilator is turned down.

“He has been reviewed by his spinal consultant and when a bed becomes available in the ITU at James Cook Hospital, Middlesborough, he will be transferred closer to home.

“Graham and his family want to thank everyone for their continued and overwhelming support.”

Earlier in the week Lee’s family thanked the racing public for their support. A statement said: “Graham’s family would like to thank everyone for their best wishes and for their support of the JustGiving page set by Graham’s 18-year-old daughter Amy, who says:

“I am personally writing down each and every message and donation that comes through and I share all of these with Dad.

“To be honest, it’s simply overwhelming and we can’t believe that so many people are thinking of us. I wish I could explain how much of a difference it will make to Dad’s recovery knowing that he has your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The IJF released a joint statement from its president and vice president, Sir Anthony McCoy and Jack Berry, which pledged to support Lee and his family by assisting Lee in his recovery and predicament “for however long it takes”.

Lee is a highly successful rider, having initially ridden over jumps where he won the Grand National on Amberleigh House and then switching his attention to the flat, where he is a multiple Group 1 winner, having captured the Ascot Gold Cup and Nunthorpe Stakes. Based in North Yorkshire, his 598 rides this season have yielded 47 winners.