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Jockey with artificial leg to make history by riding in a race at Sandown this afternoon

Published 13:16 13 Feb 2015 GMT

Sean Nolan
Jockey with artificial leg to make history by riding in a race at Sandown this afternoon

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The 3.05 at Sandown will be a history-making race

As the many effusive tributes to AP McCoy proved, there are few sportspeople braver than National Hunt jockeys. But one man today will take that bravery to new heights. Captain Guy Disney is an army veteran who lost the lower half of his left leg in Afghanistan in 2009. Today, he will ride a horse called Ballyallia Man for Tom George (main pic) in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, becoming the first jockey to take part in a race with an artificial leg. George told the Gloucestershire Echo:  "I'm looking forward to him having the ride. He's been down and schooled him and gets on well with him. He's a nice horse, but the most important thing is everyone has a good time and it's that this particular race is all about. Disney was granted his amateur riding licence by the BHA in November and he will make his debut in the race that is restricted to riders who have been or are current members of the British Armed Forces.

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Jockey with artificial leg to make history by riding in a race at Sandown this afternoon