McCoy’s presence highlights Berry’s standing

Having hung up his saddle at the end of April amid national acclaim, the legendary 41-year-old is one of the former weighing room stars due to line up in the Clipper Logistics Leger Legends Classified Stakes on day one of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival.

Now a permanent fixture in the horse racing calendar, this unique one-mile race raises money for the Northern Racing College and Jack Berry House, the £3m Injured Jockey’ Fund rehabilitation centre which was officially opened at Malton earlier this year.

Despite McCoy’s never-say-die determination, which has seen him resume riding on the gallops in preparation for today’s race that will be witnesses by luminaries like the Princess Royal, Lester Piggott and Sir Alex Ferguson, he is by no means assured of success aboard Gannicus – Johnny Murtagh, a three-time winner of the Epsom Derby, has made no secret of his desire to win the contest and will be a formidable competitor on Commissar.

The charity contest has raised over £500,000 in the last five years and there is every hope that this year’s renewal will generate a six-figure sum – Betfred boss Fred Done has already bid £10,000 for the saddle that McCoy is due to use this afternoon on Town Moor.

It will also be a celebration of the tireless enthusiasm of Leeds-born Berry who was among those to instigate the Injured Jockeys Fund more than 50 years ago.

Not only did his perseverance lead to Oaksey House being built in the racing heartland of Lambourn in 2009, but he also refused to accept no for an answer when plans for a comparable centre in the north of England were doubted.

However, he is the first to admit that his efforts would not have been possible without the unflinching support of the whole racing family, including from McCoy and Piggott who he is proud to cite as both heroes and inspirations.

“On the day Jack Berry House opened, Dale Gibson, who won the Legends race last year, asked AP to take part and he declined because he had only just retired,” Berry told The Yorkshire Post. “I saw AP later and asked ‘Tony, would you do me a favour?’

“He said ‘yes, you know Jack I will’. I said ‘you can’t say no or go back on your word’. He nodded so I asked ‘Will you ride in the Legends race?’ He said ‘yes’ and we shook on it there and then. I knew he wouldn’t let me down. He never has done – he even rode my last ever jumps winner at Sedgefield many moons back.

“Typical AP, he had broken his thumb in a fall at Leicester the day before and was wearing what looked like boxing gloves. There was no way he could ride a finish, but he still gave the horse three or four cracks and won the day.

“I’ve been very lucky, you wouldn’t believe it but I was responsible for Lester’s last ever winner when he won at Haydock on Palacegate Jack in 1994.

“I’d known him from the time he used to ride over hurdles, and he was the best. When he phoned up and asked to ride your horse, you knew it had a great chance of winning because he studied the form very closely.

“He was very, very clever – he still is – and all he wanted to know was whether the horse would get the trip. It’s been a privilege to be associated with Lester and AP.

“You forget Lester was riding before all the medical aids and nutritional advice were introduced. Just imagine how many winners he could have ridden.

“The same with AP; facilities like Oaksey House and Jack Berry House were not about for the greatest part of his career.

“I’m very fortunate to have seen Lester Piggott, AP McCoy and a racehorse called Arkle in my lifetime. You can’t ask for more, can you?”

The ever enthusiastic Berry could not be more delighted with the difference that his centre is making.

“I was there yesterday and it was buzzing,” he said. “It’s not just doing a great service for injured jockeys but the riders are able to use the gym facilities and equicizer before they go to the races.

“I am very, very proud of the facility. We just have to keep chipping away, it costs £250,000 to £300,000 a year to run, and that is still a tall order. Years ago, I came up with the concept of Oaksey House and sat down at my house in North Yorkshire with an architect and came up with a plan.

“It took three years to get it passed the trustees of the IJF, but it was worth it when you look at the difference it is making – our jockeys now receive the very best care and support in the world, and we should be very proud of that.

“I always thought we’d get a facility in the North and that is why the Legends race has been so important over the past five years.

“It kept Jack Berry House and the Northern Racing College in the spotlight, and will remain important to both organisations moving forward.”