THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Category: General News

WHILLANS WINS FOR GB!

07-10-2005

With 11 runners going to post and THE PLAYER from Andrew Balding’s stable parting company with his German rider on the way there, once the race was underway the pace was steady. THE GAIKWAR overcame a slow start to win well in the end for Ewan Whillans representing Great Britain, and ran on when he found himself in front sooner than might have been intended.

Six nations took part in the race for the Richmond-Brissac Trophy, namely France, Germany, Italy, Team Europe, USA and Great Britain.

GOOD NEWS FOR CAT A MEMBERS!

25-08-2005

Race Planning at the BHB have very kindly agreed to open up allnon-Open Bumpers to Cat A Amateurs. The conditionsof all such races will be amended as from next week’sRacing Calendar onwards.The wording “Conditional Jockeys’ and Amateur Riders’Race” will be added in brackets under each race title to help you identify these races.Always doublecheck the conditions of every NH bumper from now on to see if as a Category A member you are eligible to ride.

Diamonds are Kylie’s best friend!

02-08-2005

With twenty four lady riders keen to acquire the diamond necklace on offer to the winner, Andrew Balding’s Arctic Desert with Irish amateur Liz Lalor (having her first ride in England) was always up with the pace and put in a determined challenge in the final furlong but John Best’s Mine Behind and Kylie Manser got up by a head to be first past the post. Emma Folkes on Dave Evans’s Hazewind was a length away in 3rd with Sarah Bosley a short head back in 4th on Tony Carroll’s Nautical.

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR LICENCE?

20-07-2005

Amateur Riders are reminded that Permits to ride expired on 30th June.

Application forms and details of the revised Jockey Club Assessment of concussion protocol have been sent to all current riders and the forms should be returned to: The Jockey Club, Licensing Department, 151 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8AL at least 2 weeks in advance of the date for which they are required.

Further forms are available from the same address by calling 020 7189 3844 or by e-mail: dbrett@thejockeyclub.co.uk

PRESS DAY AT BATH

18-07-2005

All lady jockeys who have ridden in the Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby Series this year are invited to Bath Racecourse this Thursday when the racecourse hosts a Press Day for this prestigious race, the richest ladies race in Europe. The final Ladies Derby is eagerly awaited which takes place on 14th August.

GAY KINDERSLEY 75TH BIRTHDAY FEGENTRI HANDICAP HURDLE

18-07-2005

The 75th birthday (2nd June 2005) of the President of the AJA, Mr Gay Kindersley, was celebrated belatedly at Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday 17th July when the Fegentri invitation race, hosted by the AJA, was named in his honour.

Twelve runners went to post, half of which were representing the host nation Great Britain, and the closest of these in the finish was Naked Oat ridden by Jamie Snowden, who was only beaten a head by Henrik Engblom on Milton Bradley’s Mr Fernet in a thrilling finish.

DUNSDON SCORES ON FROZEN LAKE!

18-07-2005

FOLLOWING THE 50TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF FEGENTRI, RACING WAS HELD ON SUNDAY 13TH FEBRUARY ON THE FROZEN LAKE OF ST MORITZ. DAVID DUNSDON REPRESENTED GREAT BRITAIN AND SCORED A FACILE WIN ON THE SNOW, BEATING NINE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WITH EASE.

NATIONAL HUNT CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT STRATFORD!

24-05-2005

There was no doubt that Thomas Greenall was going to claim the NH Champion Amateur title from early on in the season and follow in the footsteps of both his father and uncle by getting his name into the record books. The ladies title was not so easy to prophecy in spite of Rose Davidson staying at the top of the tables for months on end. This was until the very last day of the season, when Polly Gundry travelled up to Stratford from Devon point to pointing to take a ride in the last running of Intrum Justitia’s Hunterchase. At this stage Polly was one winner behind Rose’s total of 7 and had to win the race in order to steal the crown, having one more 2nd placed run to her name. This is exactly what happened and no one was more surprised than Polly herself!

Many congratulations to our two new champions, and of course to their runners up, Nick Williams and Rose Davidson, who put up some great performances during the season.

Congratulations to all of our members who have ridden winners this season both on the racecourse and point to pointing and given us all so much excitement.

New amateur champions Thomas Greenall and Polly Grundy receive their champagne from AJA President Gay Kindersley

BOLLINGER AND BATHWICK SERIES BEGIN FOR 2005

23-05-2005

ANUVASTEEL provided Wayne Hogg and Neville Callaghan with an easy winner (and a magnum of Bollinger for Wayne!) at Newmarket in the first of this year’s 10 Bollinger flat races for gentlemen amateurs on Friday 20th May.

Just over an hour later on the other side of the country at Bath, 2004’s Flat Amateur Lady Champion, Sarah Bosley, was to be found enjoying success on MISTER RIGHT for Dominic Ffrench Davis, winning the first race of the four that make up the Bathwick Tyres Series 2005.

Congratulations to all winning connections!

THE FUTURE OF AMATEUR RACING

03-05-2005

THE FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY OF AMATEUR RACING

Within the last few months, proposals by the BHB have been well documented within the press for the necessity of a betting led racing calendar with the addition of restricted field sizes. Whilst the AJA continues to strive to protect and promote amateur racing in Great Britain, against this background, we would like to express our concerns in an attempt to safeguard our sport.



Introduction

The amateur jockey plays an important role within the framework of the racing industry, representing a diversity of backgrounds, ages and skill levels. Under both codes of racing, the amateur status can be a useful introduction to the young novice rider and allow him/her time to see if s/he has the necessary talent and abilities required to progress towards a professional career. The amateur route can be the first step before the NH jockey turns conditional and then professional. There are many examples of this career path, most notably Peter and Thomas Scudamore, Richard Dunwoody and Richard Johnson. Similarly, on the flat (both turf and all-weather) Ryan Moore and Ian Mongan have successfully progressed to successful professional careers having begun as amateur riders.

With the change in our social history from, say, twenty years ago, the “true” amateur from either a privileged or agricultural background is a rare breed. This is partly because in today’s fast moving and commercial world, most amateurs cannot afford to participate in the sport without a career to finance it, and partly because the demise of farming over the past twenty years has reduced the number of owner/breeder farmers’ sons participating.

Benefits of amateur racing to the sport as a whole

The spectacle of amateur riders holds great appeal to the racing public and adds a dimension that is a proven crowd puller. Cheltenham and Aintree are of course the most spectacular, when the likes of lifelong amateurs (Dick Saunders (aged 48) with Grittar in 1982 and Marcus Armytage with Mr Frisk in 1990) have left an unforgettable impression within the minds of the racegoer. In fact it opens up the sport to everyone, and appeals as a pastime that anyone can participate in regardless of his or her age and ability. The amateur riders’ Grand National, the Foxhunters, caused particular media interest last year with Carrie Ford taking the honours only a few weeks after giving birth. This kind of sentimental story gives the world of racing a much needed boost and raises public awareness of the sport as a whole. We all benefit – not only the immediate connections (owners, trainers, jockeys and breeders) but also the racecourses, the stable lads, the bookmakers, the charities, the sponsors and everyone employed within the racing industry.

Limited opportunities for the amateur rider

Of course the spectacle of amateur racing is not confined to National Hunt racing alone. The ladies race at York and their Diamond race at Ascot are always well supported, and the size of these fields is essential to the nature of each race. With flat amateur jockeys barred from riding against professionals in this country, unlike Europe, their racing opportunities are far fewer than for their NH counterparts. There are already very limited opportunities for the novice rider just starting out on his/her riding career under either code, but perhaps more so on the flat, particularly when race conditions for our most prestigious flat races demand (and rightly so) that jockeys must have ridden 10 winners to qualify. At least NH amateurs can start their riding careers point-to-pointing but flat jockeys have little alternatives unless they diversify to Arab racing, where top rides are inevitably taken by the more successful amateur riders (as well as professional jockeys). To see these chances restricted still further by the removal of some of our existing programmed races would be catastrophic to our members, further restricting their opportunities and creating a stranglehold on their chances of riding at all.

Another spectacle enjoyed by the racing public is the role of FEGENTRI, the international organisation which co-ordinates a series of amateur races throughout the world. British amateur riders have ridden in over 20 different countries in the last few years and in 2004 Great Britain hosted races at Newbury, Goodwood, Epsom (the gentleman amateur riders’ Derby) and Uttoxeter. The benefit of these races, creating excellent International relations, is incalculable, “flying the flag” for British racing abroad, and our industry gains from it worldwide. Connections are made across the globe not only rider to rider but also country to country. These relationships and friendships are often lifelong.

Pony racing is enjoying great success in its infancy and it is excellent to see young talent being encouraged and supported. The AJA are keen to support these young riders but it is a major concern to us that whilst we are anxious to guide such raw young talent in the right direction, it is possible that there will be no direction to guide them towards unless opportunities are out there for them.

The amateur jockey within the framework of the racing industry

It is not just the riding careers that benefit from all of these race riding experiences; an amateur racing background also provides a vital service to the racing industry in every area imaginable. As in any industry, experience at the grass roots is invaluable. By drawing on their respective amateur riding careers, the benefits of these unique legacies are immeasurable for many. Large numbers of racing’s owners and trainers are ex-amateur jockeys who work within the racing industry, and their riding experiences have given them a unique depth of understanding for the roles that they play. This is also true of many employed within the numerous administrative and official racing offices throughout the country. The modern face of racing now draws upon personnel from commercial non-racing backgrounds and their detachment from the sport is obviously a disadvantage.

Many amateurs begin their race riding careers on the point-to-point course and progress from this to Hunter Chasing and then on to amateur racing under Rules. With an impending nationwide hunting ban, the scale of point-to-pointing, a nursery for much equine and human talent, is seriously under threat and the far reaching impacts will inevitably have a knock-on effect on British Racing as a whole with numbers of runners reduced, revenues cut and jobs threatened. We understand that some Hunterchases are likely to be eliminated by some racecourses for 2006 as a direct result of the newly introduced proposals of the BHB with regard to betting turnover. The point-to-point world therefore faces a two-pronged attack. Flat races are also going to be affected by this betting turnover ruling which has already resulted in the amateurs losing their valuable flat race at Ayr in September 2004. Whilst we recognise that the bookmaker plays an important part in the sport, we believe that this is not the only aspect that should be taken into consideration and that the bookmaker should not dictate the complete picture. The national betting operators have never been more commercially aware of the need to make a greater profit year-on-year. Whilst appreciating that bookmakers must turn a profit, they are naturally only interested in the business aspect, whereas the amateur jockey is passionate about the sport itself.
Our sport has of course close ties with point-to-pointing. Although costs to the owners are no less than racing under Rules, the theatre of point-to-pointing is gaining in popularity for participants and spectators alike. Point-to-point experience is one of the criteria for an amateur jockey’s licence whereby point-to-point riders progress to ride under Rules. The gradual loss over the last few years of amateur hurdle races and steeplechases has created a problem for Category A licence holders wanting to progress to Category B through lack of racing opportunities. Current rules dictate that riders are required to have had 15 completed rides under Rules, with the majority over fences. This includes Hunterchases, but point-to-points are only counted if finishing in the first three. The Licensing Department agree that applicants are complaining about the amount of time taken to qualify because of lack of opportunities. Riders must spend over £600 each in attending the Category B course and are then forced to wait up to eighteen months before qualifying.

Opportunities are also non-existent for Category A amateurs in NH bumpers. Current rules restrict participation to professional jockeys and Category B amateurs, and it would therefore seem unfair that inexperienced conditionals can participate in these races fresh from completing their training course whilst it takes amateurs so much longer. With the slow but steady reduction of opportunities and decreasing numbers of amateur riders’ races and Hunter Chases, many of our members will be forced out of the sport through lack of opportunity, with only the top few established amateur riders given the chances to ride.

Possible consequential affects of proposed changes on amateur racing

By shrinking the amateur rider’s arena, their reduced opportunities will in turn lead to a reduction in the total number of horses in training and their associates (owners, trainers, breeders, stable staff, farriers, transporters, vets, racecourse staff, etc) within the sport. The potential damage on our sport could prove to be irreparable and irreversible. The large decline in numbers of the NH jockey has been well documented and remains a major concern, which could in time become a crisis. It isn’t far from that now. By restricting the opportunities of the amateur jockey, the flow from amateur ranks will dwindle and a further decline in professional numbers is inevitable. There are currently 86% more amateur jockeys than professional in the UK, of which around 40% hold a Category B licence. This wealth of talent should be protected and encouraged.

With the proposed ban on hunting in the UK, it is inevitable that a small proportion of our amateurs will move to Ireland to enjoy the benefits of amateur racing there. It is interesting to note that it is usual for the fiercest betting market on the Irish racecard to be the last race of the day, the Bumper. The Irish Bumper is either an exclusively amateur riders’ race or a pro-am race, the Irish pro being a 7 lb only conditional jockey as opposed to a fully fledged professional.

Conclusion

In order to encourage our members to remain in the sport and in order to continue to attract new recruits, particularly in the light of the decline of the number of professional jockeys within the racing industry, the AJA would suggest that temperance is given to both the betting turnover rule and the restriction of field sizes for amateur races. The AJA therefore ask the BHB to consider the following proposals:

1. The AJA strongly oppose any introduction of field size restrictions to amateur races as this not only damages the nature and spectacle of some races but also severely reduces opportunities for our members.

2. If it is inevitable that field size restrictions (minimum 8 runners & maximum 14 runners) will be introduced in the future, the AJA propose that the following flat races are offered protection from this rule:· Ascot: Bollinger Series Final· York: Queen Mother’s Cup· Bath: Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby· Ascot: Ladies Diamond Race

3. The AJA propose that more amateur riders’ NH races are made available which allow for the participation of Category A licence holders in order that these riders are given the opportunity to qualify for their Category B licence.

4. The AJA propose that consideration is given to the introduction of a limited number of pro-am races for 7 lb conditional and amateur jockeys only NH flat races. Amateur jockeys to include not only Category B licence holders but also Category A licence holders, providing that Category A jockeys have had a minimum of 10 rides under Rules (any code).

5. The AJA propose that consideration is given to the introduction of a limited number of pro-am handicap hurdle races and steeplechases for 7 lb conditional and amateur jockeys only. Amateur jockeys to include not only Category B licence holders but also Category A licence holders providing that Category A jockeys hold the jump or combined licence.

6. The AJA propose that consideration is given to alteration of the conditions of existing ladies hurdle races which would then allow Category A lady jockeys to participate, providing that those jockeys hold the jump or combined licence. Additional races of this nature would be greatly appreciated.

7. Finally, the AJA request that each racecourse is encouraged to continue to programme amateur races within their respective racing programmes.

SO/January 2005

EXAMPLES OF FORMER AMATEUR RIDERS WITHIN THE RACING INDUSTRY

Robert Alner – Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer

Marcus Armytage – Grand National winning jockey and journalist

Andrew Balding – Classic winning trainer

Peter Beaumont – Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer

Col Sir Piers Bengough – Jockey Club Steward

Philip Blacker – Jockey Club steward

Steve Brookshaw – Grand National winning trainer

Roger Charlton – Derby winning trainer and Cheltenham Festival winning jockey

Simon Claisse – Cheltenham clerk of the course; PPORA Chairman

Chris Collins – Champion amateur rider and Jockey Club Steward

Sir Michael Connell – Amateur rider and Jockey Club Steward

Jim Culloty – Treble Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey

Luca Cumani – Derby winning trainer

Lord Daresbury – Aintree Chairman and point-to-point champion

Sandy Dudgeon – Steward

Richard Dunwoody – Champion NH Jockey

Tim Easterby – Trainer

James Fanshawe – Dual Champion Hurdle winning trainer

Mike Felton – Wincanton Steward; ex-champion point-to-point rider

Nick Gaselee – Grand National winning trainer

Guy Harwood – Ex leading Flat Trainer

Nicky Henderson – Leading NH Trainer

Bruce Hobbs – Grand National winning jockey and Classic winning trainer

Tim Holland-Martin – Cheltenham steward and Derby winning breeder

Richard Johnson – Current top NH jockey

Gay Kindersley – Champion amateur rider and Jockey Club member

Alan Lillingston – Champion Hurdle winning rider; major force in flat breeding

Richard Linley – Jockey Club

John Maxse – Jockey Club

Bob McCreery – Major force in flat breeding

Ian Mongan – Flat jockey

Ryan Moore – Top Flat jockey

Bill O’Gorman – Trainer

Lord Oaksey – Champion amateur and journalist

Jamie Osborne – Top NH jockey and flat trainer

Richard Russell – Jockey Club Member; former PPORA Chairman

Peter Scudamore – Champion NH Jockey and broadcaster

Bill Shand Kydd – Winning Hennessy owner and Jockey Club member

Robert Waley-Cohen – Owner