BETFAIR novice flat riders series details
04-06-2013
The Amateur Jockeys Association (AJA) is delighted to welcome a new sponsor with the announcement of the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series 2013.
The Series is open to amateur jockeys who are members of the AJA and who at the start of the 2013 Flat Season (22nd March 2013) have ridden no more than 3 winners under the Rules of Racing (both Jump and Flat). This does not include point-to-point or Arab racing wins. Irish amateur jockeys with no more than 3 winners are eligible to ride in this series under their Irish permits and are also welcome to participate.
The Amateur Jockeys Association will manage the series in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority. Participating jockeys will benefit from having Jimmy Bleasdale, the Jockey Coach based at the Northern Racing College, to walk the course before each race and to offer them help and advice.
A jockeys’ points system will be in place and the winning rider of each race will earn 5 points, with 3 points awarded to the 2nd placed jockey, 2 points to the 3rd and 1 point to all other jockeys who complete. In addition to winning connections being presented with Betfair trophies after each race, the winning series jockey will be presented with the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series Trophy and will be awarded a two-week working holiday with Betfair Ambassador Gordon Elliott, the County Meath based trainer, to be taken before the end of the year.
Races are scheduled to take place as follows:
17th July Catterick Bridge
24th July Leicester
31st July Redcar
12th August Thirsk
26th August Ripon
28th August Carlisle
Sarah Oliver, CEO of the AJA, said “This series is devised to act as a launching pad for the race riding careers of young amateur jockeys who often struggle to get rides. Thanks to the generosity of Betfair’s sponsorship, we can now offer these riders more opportunities to race ride together with education and training.”
Susannah Gill, Head of Public Affairs at Betfair, said “Betfair is pleased that its longstanding commitment to the grassroots of racing now extends to the AJA and it members. We hope the series will prove a great opportunity for amateur jockeys throughout the country to extend their experience with the potential of winning a truly unique prize.”