PLANS have been drawn up for a multi-million pound rehabilitation centre that will provide top treatment for injured jockeys across Northern England.

The proposed clinic would provide physiotherapy and medical treatment for jockeys, who commonly suffer head injuries or broken bones during the course of their career.

If approved, the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) centre would be based in Malton. The North Yorkshire town is a major hub for horseracing, along with Middleham in the Yorkshire Dales.

Plans recently went on public display on Friday (November 2) and Saturday (November 3), with project fundraiser and IJF vice president Jack Berry on hand to answer questions.

The charity already has a similar unit, Oaksey House, in Lambourn, Berkshire, which was originally devised by Mr Berry as a retirement home for injured jockeys.

It quickly expanded into a treatment centre to helped injured riders return to health.

The demand on the centre became so great, that the charity felt there was a need for another in Northern England.

It intends to submit a planning application for Jack Berry House later this month (November), to be built at Orchard Fields near Malton’s rugby club.

In February this year they met with planners at Ryedale District Council who raised a number of issues with the site they were proposing.

It is believed those issues have now been addressed.

Jack Berry House would offer free or largely subsidised treatments for injured jockeys and the site would operate on a commercial basis for other users.

It will cost up to £4m to build and having running costs of about £200,000 per year, requiring a major fundraising campaign by the charity.

It is already running an initiative whereby people can purchase a brick to carry their name or that of their favourite horse. The bricks would be incorporated into the centre’s gable ends, walls and pathways.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Our aim is to provide a rehabilitation and fitness centre for jockeys based in the northern half of England and Scotland for the wider sporting world of that same area and, of course, for local residents.

“As with Oaksey House we aim to provide a top class team who can offer treatment of varying sorts for sporting injuries.”

To sponsor the project by purchasing a brick, go to the website: injuredjockeys.co.uk