Fundraiser for Keagan Kirkby's funeral and memorial exceeds £40,000 after owner donates winnings

Racing has united to raise more than £40,000 in memory of Keagan Kirkby following the 25-year-old rider's death at a point-to-point meeting on Sunday.

Kirkby, a West Country point-to-point jockey and member of Paul Nicholls' team, died after a fall at a fixture at Charing in Kent, when the horse he was riding ran out through the wing of a fence.

A JustGiving page was set up on Monday to help towards Kirkby's funeral and a memorial in his honour. Jockeys including Freddie Gingell, Niall Houlihan, Sam Twiston-Davies and Nick Scholfield are among those who have made donations, which also includes trainers, owners and the racing public.

The page had initially aimed to raise £5,000, but donations had soared to more than £40,000 on Wednesday morning.

Michael Geoghegan, owner of the Paul Nicholls-trained Fire Flyer who was ridden out daily by Kirkby, donated £3,797 of winnings earned by the horse at Taunton under an emotional Harry Cobden on Tuesday.

In its description, it says: "As a young boy Keagan could only dream of working for the champion trainer and riding winners. With hard work and sheer determination he got there and achieved everything he dreamed of and more. 

"He truly was an inspiration to all those who have a dream, he never gave up. He always had a smile and kind words to say to anyone he met. Keagan, you will be missed by so many people, you really were one of a kind."

Tributes were paid to Kirkby following his death. Trainer Rob Varnham, who provided him with four of his six point-to-point winners, described him as a "wonderful person inside and out".

Nicholls posted from his X account on Sunday evening that his yard would "miss him terribly", while BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said it was "devastated" to learn of his death.

The BHA and Point-To-Point Authority also said in a joint statement that the incident at Charing will be fully reviewed. The PPA has also encouraged those affected by it to reach out to Racing Welfare's racing support line, or the Injured Jockeys Fund/Sporting Chance helpline.

To donate to Keagan Kirkby's funeral and memorial fund, click here

For help and support you can call Racing Welfare's racing support line on 0800 6300443, or the Injured Jockeys Fund/Sporting Chance helpline on 07780 00877