Category: BHA and Regulatory Updates
07-09-2015
Any amateur jockey who sustains a concussion as a result of a fall whilst riding under Rules can now claim a Concussion Bounty in line with the system used by professional jockeys.
If you are unlucky enough to sustain such an injury and have had a red entry into your medical book, you will need to replace your crash helmet. Upon receipt of the damaged helmet, the sum of £80 will be rewarded to you in order for you to replace your helmet.
To benefit from this entitlement please post your damaged helmet to the AJA at Crews Hill House, Alfrick, Worcester WR6 5HF together with the attached form in order for your claim to be processed.
Please click on this link to download the form required to be posted along with the damaged helmet:
Bounty
03-09-2015
In view of the success over the last 3 years of the Betfair Novice Amateur Flat Series (for amateur jockeys who have ridden no more than 3 Flat winners at the start of the current Flat season) the BHA have introduced 2 new Flat races for amateurs who have ridden no more than 10 Flat winners. (Wins counted are those gained under Rules; both Arab and point-to-point races are discounted.) These races have been programmed within the old gentlemen’s Fegentri slots of the past so that they do not impinge on the existing racing calendar and are programmed at:
ROYAL WINDSOR on 5th October: FIVE FURLONGS for 3 year olds and upwards rated 51-65. To be ridden by Amateur Riders who, prior to 2nd October 2015, have not ridden more than 10 winners and who are members of AJAGB by the time fixed for declaration of riders under Rule (f)92.2 of the Rules of Racing
and
NOTTINGHAM on 28th October: ONE MILE 2 FURLONGS for 3 year olds and upwards rated 46-60. To be ridden by Amateur Riders who, prior to 25th October 2015, have not ridden more than 10 winners under the Rules of Racing or the Rules of a recognised Racing Authority and who are members of AJAGB by the time fixed for the declaration of riders under Rule (F)92.2 of the Rules of Racing.
A BHA Jockey Coach will be in attendance on each day for a pre-race coursewalk and a post-race debrief for all jockeys.
26-06-2015
Now that the BHA on-line licensing system is up and running, Amateur Jockey Permits for a full 12 months are issued throughout the year.
If your Amateur Rider Permit expires during June or July, please ensure that you submit an online renewal application as soon as possible.
If you need any assistance, please call BHA Licensing 0207 152 0140 or e-mail the Licensing Team on licensing@britishhorseracing.com.
An application for renewal can be started from the British Horseracing Authority website (www.britishhorseracing.com) at the following link http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/licensing/amateur.asp and should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the date for which the Permit is required.
04-06-2015
Baseline concussion tests for licences should be booked by jockeys. However, appointments for post-concussion testing MUST be made via BHA Medical Department: 0207 152 0138. Jockeys cannot book these appointments direct! This is partly due to the cost but also to ensure that jockeys have a neurology appointment in place. Any queries, please contact Helen Pavitt, Senior Medical Administrator in the Chief Medical Adviser’s Office at the BHA or Pippa on 0207 152 0138 e: hpavitt@britishhorseracing.com
If you are unlucky enough to sustain concussion whilst race riding under Rules, the return of your damaged crash hat to the AJA at Crews Hill House will entitle you to an £80 concussion bounty which will be paid into the claimant’s Weatherbys account or by cheque if no account is held. Please contact the AJA for the appropriate form if you would like to take advantage of this useful scheme which will fund the purchase of your replacement crash hat. Please note: this scheme only applicable to diagnosis on the racecourse by the RMO and does not apply for concussion sustained off the racecourse.
22-05-2015
The BHA is currently working with Weatherbys to develop the Declaration process to include a section requiring the Trainer to confirm when declaring to run whether the horse will be fully shod, without hind shoes or unshod. This may take until the end of 2015 before reaching completion.
All jockeys’ agents are being asked to take instruction from their jockeys as to whether they will accept bookings on their behalf if a horse will wear only front shoes or will be unshod in the race in which they are due to run.
In the unlikely event of a dispute, should the jockey refuse to ride because they consider they had been provided with inaccurate information by the trainer at the time of being booked, an enquiry will be held by the Stewards to establish the facts. To assist the BHA in considering the matter, it is likely that the Stipendiary Stewards will contact you to confirm what information was provided to you by the trainer. The BHA therefore strongly advise that you keep a record of the details provided to you by trainers.
23-04-2015
PLEASE NOTE new Rule regarding body protectors comes into force on Tuesday 5th May 2015! On and after 5th May, checks will be carried out by racecourse officials. Any rider found to be wearing a Safety Vest without the EN 13158: 2009 will not be allowed to weigh out and will be liable to a fine of £290.
31-03-2015
Body protector BHA Rules update in acknowledgement of depleted stocks at retail outlets:
In acknowledging the difficulty manufacturers are having in meeting the high volume of demand for Safety Vests meeting the 2009 Standard, required by the change to Schedule (D)2 effective from 1 April 2015, for the first month of the new Safety Vest requirements it has been agreed that those jockeys who are not in possession of a 2009 Standard Vest will be allowed to weigh out and ride in their old 2000 Standard Vest.
Jockeys who weigh out without a 2009 Standard Vest will still be reported to the Stewards and an enquiry held but where the jockey is able to demonstrate to the Stewards’ satisfaction that the reason for the non-compliance was because of circumstances beyond their reasonable control i.e an order placed in good time but still awaiting delivery, no fine will be imposed and the jockey given permission to continue using their 2000 Standard Vest up to and until 30 April 2015.
Those jockeys without a satisfactory explanation will be given the same period during which they will be allowed to continue wearing their 2000 Standard but will be fined £290 (Band C).
On and after 1 May 2015 all jockeys will be required to weigh out and ride in the 2009 Standard and anybody without the correct Standard will not be allowed to ride.
27-03-2015
A final reminder that as from Wednesday 1st April new BHA rules regarding jockey vests come into force.
- Body protectors to be worn for race riding under Rules must conform to BSEN 13158:2009.
- Body protectors must not be modified in any way. Taking a modified body protector onto the racecourse is an offence under the Rules of Racing!
29-01-2015
The EU Commission withdrew EN 1384 as an acceptable Standard at the end of 2014. Being well aware that the BHA recently insisted that every jockey must update Skull Caps, they have agreed that for the purpose of on-going compliance with the requirements of Rule Schedule (D)2, the existing (BS or CSN) EN 1384:2012 Standard will remain an acceptable Standard until 31st December 2016. Please therefore note the amended Schedule:
Schedule (D)2 – Equipment
PART 1
Skull caps and safety vests
Design of skull cap
1. A skull cap is approved by the Authority if it meets (BS) EN 1384: 2012*, PAS 015: 2011 or (CSN) EN 1384: 2012*.
2. The skull cap must not have a chin cup, cradle or draw lace.
3. The chin strap must pass under the jaw and be attached to the harness by a quick release buckle.
4. The skull cap must not have metal hooks.
* (BS) EN 1384: 2912 and (CSN) EN 1384: 2012 will be removed as acceptable standards on and after 1 January 2017.
Fitting of skull cap
5.1 The skull cap must be of the correct size for the Rider and must be correctly fitted and fastened.
5.2 The face harness must be correctly adjusted and the chin strap fastened at all times when the Rider is mounted on a horse.
Design of safety vests
6. A safety vest must conform to (BS) EN 13158: 2000 (level 1 only)*, (BS) EN 13158: 2009 or (CSN) EN 13158: 2009.
7. A safety vest must not be
7.1 modified in any way, or
7.2 attached to the horse or any equipment carried by the horse.
*see ‘Forthcoming Rule Changes’ on 3 November 2014 for further change effective from 1 April 2015.
26-01-2015
It was a busy day today for amateurs with races both at Ludlow and Wolverhampton. Many congratulations to Robert Hawker who enjoyed success at Ludlow in the largest field of the day, with 17 runners in the AJA Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle. Defying top weight on ASCENDANT for Johnny Farrelly, they won going way much to the delight of owner Alan Clegg who was visiting the course for the first time from his home in Plymouth.
Not so lucky was Brodie Hampson who sustained a broken collar bone when her horse ARISTOCRACY fell at the third last when still well on contention. Get well soon Brodie!
Meanwhile over at Wolverhampton 2014 Epsom Gentlemen’s Derby winning jockey Ross Birkett landed the 6f handicap on WATERLOO DOCK who was running for the first time on Tapeta. All did not go to plan with front running tactics in mind as the horse reared when the stalls opened, but Ross kept the horse wide and enjoyed a game win. This was a great send off for Ross who leaves Newmarket for Australia in a week to work for Gai Waterhouse in Sydney where he will be riding 12 lots a morning. The 3-month trip was won by Ross under the Alex Scott scholarship scheme and will keep him in great shape before returning to the UK in May.
