Pledges flood in for Freddy Tylicki's fund

Tylicki, previously attached to Malton trainer Richard Fahey’s yard, has been told by doctors that his hideous fall at Kempton on Monday last week left him with T7 paralysis and no movement below the chest.

A GoFundMe page was launched on Friday night as soon as the 30-year-old’s grim prognosis was confirmed, with the initial hope of raising £20,000.

However, pledges topped the £200,000 mark yesterday afternoon following 3,200 separate donations, with a visibly subdued Dettori paying tribute to his weighing room colleague after winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf success on Queen’s Trust at Santa Anita on Saturday.

“In the immediate aftermath of the race I had plenty of time to reflect on my good fortune as the post-race formalities seemed to take a little longer than usual. I began to think of my mate back home, Freddy Tylicki, and how fickle this game can be,” wrote Dettori on his Ladbrokes blog yesterday.

“Although Breeders’ Cup wins are amongst the most coveted prizes in the sport, I’d have gladly swapped them all to have heard that things weren’t as bad as they seem to be for Freddy. I’m reminded again how cruel this job can be and Freddy’s news has really shaken me.

“The weighing room is ferociously competitive and I love that sense of battle, but it’s also where my best mates are too, so when the chips are down for one of our own, we rally round in the best possible way.

“The way racing is coming together to support Freddy is inspiring. On the biggest stages, like Santa Anita, we’ve still got to get our priorities right. My Breeders’ Cup win was for Freddy. Keep fighting mate.”

At The Races TV presenter Matt Chapman set up the appeal and says that he has been thrilled by the level of support – further details on how to make donations can be found via www.gofundme.com/freddie-tylicki.

Meanwhile, wheelchair-bound Robbie McNamara, who was froced to retire from the saddle after a spinal injury left him with no movement from the waist down, has offered words of encouragement to Tylicki, who continues to be treated at St George’s Hospital, London.

McNamara took out a trainer’s licence earlier this year and said: “I’m probably happier now than I was before I got the fall. I’m not sitting in the sauna for five days a week and pulling my hair out.

“I have the same friends I always had, live in the same place, doing the same things. I was skydiving last week and living a perfectly normal life.

“Some things can be a bit more awkward than others, but it won’t stop him from doing anything. It will take a bit of adjusting, but he’ll live a perfectly normal life after.”

Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack is set to make his second start over steeplechase fences this Saturday following a winning debut at Chepstow last month.

Last season’s World Hurdle winner, trained by Colin Tizzard and ridden by Tom Scudamore, is entered for the three-mile Mallardjewllers.com Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Connections are keen that the horse gains more experience at the Gold cup venue.

High Eldwick-based Sue Smith and Danny Cook recorded doubles at Carlisle yesterday courtesy of Palm Grey and Just Minded.