The twenty ninth Jim Old Charity Golf Day, held at Marlborough Golf Club on Monday August 12, has raised £25,000 for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund.
Les Trute is Marlborough Golf Club’s General Manager: “It’s the one day in the year when the course is closed to members but the Marlborough area has strong racing connections and the Injured Jockeys’ Fund does so much good work.”
The Injured Jockeys’ Fund (IJF) was the brainchild of founding Trustee and past President John Oaksey and was created following the devastating accidents of Tim Brookshaw and, four months later, Paddy Farrell in the 1964 Grand National. Both jockeys were paralysed and their careers ended.
Since then the Fund has helped over a thousand jockeys and their families and has paid out more than £18m in charitable assistance. The average retirement age of jockeys is thirty three for flat racing and thirty one for jumps.
“The club has been hosting the Jim Old Day for twenty-nine years now and in that time we have raised more than £630,000! This year alone raised £25,000. We managed to get forty- seven teams of four safely round the course without any injuries!” added Les. “It’s always a great atmosphere – the horseracing fraternity certainly know how to enjoy themselves!”
Marlborough Golf Club member, Chris Faulkner, played alongside Sir AP McCoy with two members from Ogbourne Golf Club. They achieved third place.
Richard Pickles is Members’ Chairman: “We are proud to host the Jim Old Day. Next year will be our thirtieth year in support of the Injured Jockeys’ Fund. We look forward to welcoming our visitors and helping to support their great work.”