Major Breeding Operations Raise Money For Injured Rider

A host of major breeding operations have rowed in with fundraising efforts to support Kaitlyn Ryan, the 21-year-old amateur jockey who suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury following a freak gallops accident. Four stallion nominations were offered at Goffs Sept. 29 ahead of Day 2 of the flagship Orby Sale. They sold for a combined €135,000 (US$152,998, €1=US$1.13), with proceeds going directly toward Ryan's rehabilitation and long-term recovery. Coolmore was one of four leading farms to offer a nomination, with Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon going to €60,000 to secure a City of Troy cover. "The owners (the Abdullah family) actually read about the auction online this morning; they called and said they wanted to support it," Mahon said. "The story of Kaitlyn resonated with them. It can be a dangerous industry to work in, as we've seen, and accidents do happen, which is unfortunate. That's why the owners wanted to get behind the initiative. "City of Troy was obviously a phenomenal racehorse and we've already bred to him ourselves and have some good stock. The owners were keen to support the auction and he was the stallion they picked out." Tally-Ho Stud offered a nomination to its newest recruit, Zavateri (IRE), which went to Eddie and Wendy O'Leary of Lynn Lodge Stud at €25,000, while a nomination to Yeomanstown Stud's Mill Stream fetched €5,000. Ballylinch Stud also put up a nomination to its rising star first-season sire Bayside Boy (IRE), which was sold to William Kennedy of Stanley Lodge for €45,000. "It's a very unfortunate and tragic situation for a young woman, an amateur rider, a university student, so we felt it was a very worthy cause," said Ballylinch's managing director John O'Connor. "We were approached and we said we'd put in a horse that would be high profile and would help the charity significantly; that's the way it turned out. "There were a whole bunch of people wanting to buy the nomination, and we were delighted to see it was Stanley Lodge who had the winning bid. They do a great job breeding horses and have bred a lot of good ones with our stallions before, including Max Vega and others." On the wider industry's reaction to Ryan's situation, Mahon said: "It's a community, it's a family. While we're all competing, everyone has each other's back every day. Whether it's outside the stable door, appreciating someone who has a winner or breeds a good horse or whatever. We're delighted to have been involved this morning. Fair play to Juddmonte and all the bidders who supported the auction." O'Connor added: "It's that type of industry. Even though we compete on a daily basis, everybody comes together when there's a real need for the industry to respond. I think the industry responded very well, and we could see how many people were in the ring this morning. We're glad for the charity that the nomination sold so well and we wish the young lady every success in her rehabilitation." Ryan is a student at University College Dublin. She celebrated her first winner when partnering the Bill Durkan-trained Eagle Fang to victory in a maiden for qualified riders in the middle of July at Killarney. A GoFund Me page set up to support Ryan has already raised more than €150,000. Those wishing to donate can find the Kaitlyn Ryan fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kaitlyn-to-the-road-to-recovery.