THE parents of a teenage jockey killed in a flat fire in North Yorkshire have sponsored a Scottish race in her memory.

Jan Wilson, 19, died along with 18-year-old Jamie Kyne when the blaze swept through Buckrose Court in Norton in September 2009.

Just weeks before her death, Jan had won the six-furlong handicap at Ayr racecourse, and about 30 friends joined her parents, Drew and Margaret, on Saturday for the inaugural running of the jockeyjan.co.uk Jan Wilson Memorial Apprentice Handicap.

It carried the name of the charity set up in tribute to Jan by her parents, which has so far raised about £30,000. A £10,000 donation has been made to the Injured Jockeys’ Fund and money has also been used to sponsor pony races.

“We often watch the video of Jan’s win at Ayr – it is sad, but it brings a smile at the same time,” Mrs Wilson told the Racing Post ahead of Saturday’s race.

“We decided to sponsor the race after Ayr and Racing UK did a lovely tribute to Jan on the corresponding day last year.”

Peter William Brown, 38, was jailed indefinitely last December after being convicted of starting the fire which killed both young jockeys.

In March this year, Brown lost an appeal against his conviction after his lawyers attempted to overturn the conviction at the Appeal Court yesterday by claiming his trial at Leeds Crown Court was unfair because the evidence did not rule out the possibility of the fire starting accidentally.

Three senior judges ruled the jury was entitled to find Brown, of Brotherton, near Selby, guilty, and he will now remain behind bars for at least seven-and-a-half years before he will have a chance to apply for parole.