The Injured Jockeys Fund was the brainchild of founding Trustee and past President John Oaksey and came about following the devastating accidents of Tim Brookshaw and four months later Paddy Farrell in the 1964 Grand National. Both falls resulted in severe paralysis which immediately ended both their careers.
Since then the Fund has helped over 1000 jockeys and their families and has paid out more than £18m in charitable assistance. The Fund has a team of nine Almoners who liaise directly with beneficiaries on a support basis and also a team of 40 volunteer Visitors who keep in touch with old and isolated beneficiaries offering friendship and company.
The IJF also works closely with racing authorities and other organisations on many initiatives. It part funds on course physios and medical services and also research into improved riding protection equipment for jockeys which has resulted in a number of improved manufacturing standards being implemented. The Fund also provided the Equichute based at The British Racing School which is used in fall training for students and current jockeys.
In 2009 it opened its first rehabilitation centre, Oaksey House, in Lambourn and in April 2015 opened Jack Berry House a second state-of-the-art rehabilitation and fitness centre in Malton for northern based jockeys.