Sir Anthony McCoy lauds 'unbelievable' facility as Peter O'Sullevan House opens

Sir Anthony McCoy officially opened Peter O’Sullevan House, the Injured Jockeys Fund's (IJF) third rehabilitation and fitness centre, at the British Racing School in Newmarket on Friday morning.

The £6 million development, which took 13 months to build, will complement the two existing IJF sites at Oaksey House in Lambourn and Jack Berry House in Malton.

The centre, named after the late, great commentator who died in 2015, is equipped with physio treatment rooms, a comprehensive gym and a Hydroworx hydropool. The latter is key to any rehabilitation facility and is beneficial in treating a multitude of injuries with its underwater treadmill, massage hoses and performance-monitoring systems.

McCoy, president of the IJF, said: “It’s unbelievable that with the opening of Peter O’Sullevan House, we now have three rehabilitation and fitness centres around the country that help and support jockeys both during and after their careers. I can’t tell you how lucky racing is to have this and how proud I am to be here today. If facilities like these had existed when I started riding, I might still be going today!”

In the grounds of Peter O’Sullevan House sit two life size ‘horseshoe’ sculptures. Members of the public who donated over £100 were allocated a horseshoe in recognition of their support.Credit: Matthew Power Photography

In addition to McCoy, a stellar group of jockeys past and present were in attendance at the official opening, including Lester Piggott, Ryan Moore, Frankie Dettori, William Buick, Ted Durcan, Johnny Murtagh, Luke Morris and Hayley Turner.

Peter O'Sullevan House will become particularly valuable to jockeys in Newmarket and the eastern region in general who previously faced a long trek south or north to gain much needed access to one of the other two facilities.

Lester Piggott, Frankie Dettori and Sir Anthony McCoy at the official opening of Peter O'Sullevan HouseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Brough Scott, chairman of the IJF, said: “It is entirely fitting that this remarkable centre is named after Peter O’Sullevan, one of racing’s greatest supporters and friends. He would have been extremely proud of what we, in racing and at the IJF, have achieved in completing our third centre.

"We can now focus on our twin aims of helping those who have been injured or incapacitated long term and helping our jockeys be physically and mentally prepared for the risks they face.”

Peter O'Sullevan House: opened by Sir Anthony McCoy on Friday morning

Lisa Hancock, CEO of the IJF, added: "We have a fantastic team in place and amazing facilities and are really looking forward to engaging with jockeys, both currently licensed and retired, and the wider racing population of Newmarket. As a charity we're extremely proud to be able to offer this level of service and expertise to our sportsmen and women.”

Key to the centre’s generous funding were The Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, The Thompson Family Charitable Trust, The Racing Foundation, The Alborada Trust, The Childwick Trust, The EBM Charitable Trust, The Paul Bush Foundation Trust, The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, Shirley Gedge and Godolphin.

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