Tye Angland has expressed his gratitude to the Kwok family, the owners of champion Hong Kong galloper Beauty Generation, a New Zealand-bred son of Road To Rock, following their $A1 million gift to his family.
Angland, who rode horses for the Kwoks in Australia and Hong Kong, became a quadriplegic after suffering spinal injuries in a race fall in Hong Kong in November.
The Kwok family’s donation was made at a racing function in Hong Kong on Wednesday, just days out from the start of their new season.
The money will be placed into trust funds for Angland’s three children and will be used to fund their education and future life expenses.
“The whole family is obviously very grateful with what the Kwok family has put together for us,” Angland said on Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio.
“Emotions have been high and low ever since the accident. The racing family has been very supportive of the whole accident and towards my family as well.
“It’s definitely made life that little bit easier, that’s for sure.”
It has been an emotional week for Angland, who was reunited with one of his favourite horses, Trapeze Artist, at a stallion parade in the Hunter Valley last weekend.
Angland rode the horse to three Group One wins and Trapeze Artist appeared to recognise him immediately during a photo shoot, which has been published on twitter.
“He’s come up and just bowed his head into my lap and I was able to give him a pat,” Angland said.
The former jockey said he had received tremendous support from the racing industry since his accident, particularly from close friends and riders, Tommy Berry and Grant Buckley.
He is determined to remain positive and be a role model to others.
“I think your mindset is a lot stronger than a set of legs so I’m just going to be the positive person that I am and hopefully help a few people out along the way,” he said.
