Support for jockey grows as donations continue to pile in

The trainers who helped mould Freddy Tylicki into the Group 1 winner he became this year have spoken glowingly about the jockey, who is coming to terms with the life-changing injuries he sustained in a fall at Kempton last week.

Support for Tylicki, who has no movement in his lower body after suffering T7 paralysis, has come from all reaches of the racing community, and by 6pm on Sunday a fundraising page set up for the German-born rider had surpassed £165,000, with more than 2,500 individual donations.

The 30-year-old was attached to Richard Fahey when he became champion apprentice in 2009, and before recently claiming the first top-flight successes of his career on Speedy Boarding in France he regarded his 2008 John Smith's Cup win for the stable on Flying Clarets as one of his most important.

Fahey said: "I'm so sorry for him and his family. He's a good fella and has always been very dedicated to being a jockey. He's always been a grafter and was getting his reward this year."

Before moving to Malton, Tylicki, whose late father was one of Germany's most successful jockeys, spent five years working in Ireland, including for Dermot Weld.

Weld, to whom he was first apprenticed, said: "Freddy is an exceptionally nice person and a very good rider. The thoughts of everyone here at Rosewell House are with him and his family at this sad time."

Top apprentice Sammy Jo Bell, who is recovering from fracturing her pubic bone in a bad fall which required her to spend two months in a wheelchair, is among the new wave of riders learning her trade with Fahey.

She said: "It's devastating news and our thoughts are with his family. Freddy is such a lovely person and was very friendly when I first came over from Ireland and didn't know anybody. He's a strong-minded person so hopefully he can pull through."

Tylicki had been due to fly out to California – he had gone to London to get his visa approved before heading to Kempton – to ride at the Breeders' Cup.

Among his other globetrotting adventures, he made regular trips to the country of his birth and narrowly missed out on emulating his father by winning the German Derby in July.

'Big loss to the weighing room'

Last season he rode in the UAE as stable jockey for Ahmad bin Harmash, finishing the campaign with ten winners.

"It's very sad news and all our thoughts are with him and his family," said Bin Harmash.

"He's undoubtedly one of the very nicest people I've ever worked with, as well as being one of the best jockeys we've had in the UAE.

"He'll be a big loss to the weighing room but we all pray he finds a new niche in life and I'm sure he'll be a success.

"That's for the future though and for now we can only offer our sincerest sympathy to him and his family, while hoping for the best for what lies ahead."

Donate to the Freddy Tylicki fundraising page at gofundme.com/freddie-tylicki