Conditional Course upcoming at BRS end June
24-05-2018
24-05-2018
18-05-2018
A reminder to all jockeys who might be riding abroad in the near future, please take the time to read the following regarding INSURANCE FOR JOCKEYS RIDING ABROAD:
1 Make sure you have a European Health Insurance Card. It is free of charge and is easy to apply for on-line at http://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/startApplication.do
This card gives you the right to access state-provided health care when in Europe either at a reduced cost or in many cases free of charge.
You need a National Insurance number or a National Health number in order to apply.
2 Make sure your Amateur Jockeys Association membership is up-to-date and valid so that in the event of an emergency you are entitled to help and support which is always available.
3 Make sure you have clearance from the BHA both from the Medical Department and Licensing Disciplinary so that there are no problems when you come to weigh out abroad.
4 Make sure you are race riding under the Rules of Racing under the jurisdiction of a Horseracing Authority which is recognised worldwide in order for your jockey race riding insurance (which comes with your BHA licence from weigh out to weigh in) to be valid.
5 Make sure that you purchase your own personal travel insurance in addition to the BHA insurance which your licence gives you. The BHA insurance does not cover repatriation if you have to be flown home in an emergency (cost approximately £25,000+) and therefore it really is worth it to purchase some travel insurance on-line for a small cost!
We recommend Boots Travel Insurance with the Option 3 Hazardous Sports included. You only have to purchase this for the day of your race to minimise costs and it could make all the difference if something goes wrong and you sustain an injury.
6 Make sure you are registered with a GP in the UK. This might sound unnecessary but for some Irish jockeys now based in the UK this is really important.
7 A further reminder for jockeys considering working abroad this summer: If a rider is based overseas and hopes to ride under Rules overseas, a permit must be sought from the relative governing authority in which they are currently based (e.g. France Galop, Direktorium Für Vollblutzucht Und Rennen).
Riders with existing and valid BHA Amateur Rider permits can ride overseas for up to a period of up to thirty consecutive days. After a period of thirty successive days overseas, riders’ insurance ceases to be valid.
Permits will not be renewed or granted for individuals that are not permanently based in Britain at the time of application.
14-05-2018
The ladies jumps contest is as equally gripping as the men’s with reigning champion Page Fuller taking an early seasonal lead but finding a serious challenger in Becky Smith who has played cat and mouse with her over the last few weeks. Both girls have been vying for the lead with Becky now on 11 wins, 4 clear of her nearest rival Abbie Mccain, and nearly making it 12 but beaten a neck at Hexham on Saturday.
Page enjoyed a convincing win at Haydock earlier that afternoon for Jamie Snowden with Monbeg Theatre, repeating their recent Cheltenham victory and taking her to 13 wins for the season.
Page has added to that tally this evening when winning a match race at Towcester, again for her stable, with OUR THREE SONS but she knows well enough that she cannot rest on her laurels as no doubt Becky is looking for more rides over the next 3 weeks!
Good luck ladies!
14-05-2018
Whilst the professional jump jockeys’ new 2018/19 season is now well underway, of course our own amateur jumps season does not end until Stratford’s evening meeting on Friday 8th June. That is exactly 25 days away and in case you are wondering why I am counting, that is because our jump championships have rarely been so exciting and seen so much competitiveness at the top of the tables!
Zac Baker has been leading the gentlemen for much of the season with an early lead taken last summer and keeping his place for several months. However, with the onset of the Hunterchase season several fellow weighing room colleagues have been stacking up behind him in recent weeks and Lorcan Williams went one ahead last week to lead the tables with 11 winners, leaving Zac and Alex Edwards on 10 and David Maxwell on 8.
Last Tuesday the AJA hurdle at Ludlow saw Zac rejoin Lorcan in pole position on 11 wins, with Lorcan announcing his intention to turn conditional before the end of the season. However, the new BHA system whereby any Category B holder has now to complete a 2nd week at either the Northern Racing College or British Racing School before turning pro has meant that Lorcan will have to remain amateur until he is able to complete this course in the near future.
Congratulations to Zac on a great ride at Ludlow for his boss Nigel Twiston-Davies on EQUUS MILLAR in the Amateur Jockeys Association Handicap Hurdle, tracking the leaders and going 2nd 2 out to lead in the last 100 yards and win cosily by just over a couple of lengths from James King, with Alex Ferguson 3rd. 🏆
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Good luck to all the lads for the rest of the season, with a fascinating battle for the championship in store!
Picture credits: AJA
20-03-2018
The recent return of the Beast from the East saw a couple of runners withdrawn from 14 runners declared for today’s finale of our All-Weather season at Lingfield. Nevertheless the race proved to be an excellent and conclusive end to the season, just 11 days before the professionals’ Championships Finals on Good Friday.
10-03-2018
Our military races are an integral part of our calendar and never seem to disappoint, with extraordinary stories often emerging. Surely nobody can forget in recent years the emotional victories of Brodie Hampson and then of Guy Disney with back-to-back victories in last and this year’s Royal Artillery Gold Cup.
The lead-up to Cheltenham obviously dominated all racing news in the week leading up to it but there are always plenty of stories out there and none more remarkable than the comeback ride out of retirement of Sally Randell which preceded Billy Aprahamian’s magnificent victory later in the afternoon of the Grand Military Gold Cup.
Specifically targeting her regular ride at home, 14 year-year-old RATIFY trained by partner Fergal O’Brien, Sally dusted off her boots and to her joy all went exactly to plan – to win the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Memorial Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at the Military meeting at Sandown on 9th March!
Leading early on, Sally only had to shake her horse up from 2 out for him to respond to her urgings and take up the lead on the flat and go on to win gamely by over a length.
“That was fantastic” she said. “He’s the only reason I came back to ride. Five years ago was the last time I rode in this race and I won it. My grandad died that morning and I said I just wanted to ride in it one more time and there was nothing I wanted to ride until Ratify came along. I knew if I dropped my reins he could win it for me. There’s not many I’d have been confident enough to ride but I knew if I just sat there he could win it for me. It was worth coming out of retirement, I was screaming at him after the last and it’s just so special. I won my last chase – I thought there’s no way that can happen twice. That’s it, I promise, you won’t see me riding again.”
Many congratulations to Sally and to all winning connections. Sally immediately re-hung up her boots after her victory and now belongs to a very rare club , ending her riding career with winning rides both over hurdles and fences! What an achievement!🏇
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08-03-2018
By kind arrangement with Cheltenham Racecourse the following has been arranged for any Amateur Jockey riding at Cheltenham Festival:
Former jockey and BHA Coach Carl Llewellyn will be offering a Course Walk at the Cheltenham Festival prior to racing each day. The initiative mirrors that of the previously established course walks at Aintree. The majority of amateurs riding at Cheltenham are invariably experienced and many are previous course winners but those jockeys with inexperience of Cheltenham are encouraged to try and attend the walk.
Please meet Carl in the Weighing Room from 11:30 am.
Good luck to all amateur jockeys riding at Cheltenham!
08-03-2018
Many congratulations to Lincolnshire’s successful point-to-point jockey Tom Strawson who enjoyed his first winner under Rules at Catterick with DUHALLOW TORNADO for Chris Pimlott.
07-03-2018
Plans for this summer’s lady jockeys’ pro/am Silk Series have been announced with added fixtures taking the total to 13 races to include races from non-Arena racecourses Goodwood, Hamilton, Musselburgh and York.
Ex-amateur apprentice Megan Nicholls won the 2017 Tufnell Trophy and this year the point-based series offers a total of £150,000 in prize-money, with the £20,000 finale programmed to take place at the St Leger meeting.
Our favourite race from last year has to be Newcastle’s with amateurs monopolising the first three places: triple champion lady rider Carol Bartley won aboard Archipelago for Iain Jardine with Ella McCain 2nd (Sikandar) and Carly Scott 3rd (Royal Reserve).
Good luck ladies! We look forward to a great summer ahead.
RACECOURSE | DATE | AFT/EVE | Distance | Prize Money | |||||
Musselburgh | 02-Jun-18 | Day | 1m 6f | £10,000 | |||||
Chepstow | 13-Jul-18 | Eve | 6f | £10,000 | |||||
Great Yarmouth | 18-Jul-18 | Eve | 6f | £10,000 | |||||
Lingfield Park | 21-Jul-18 | Eve | 5f | £10,000 | |||||
York | 27-Jul-18 | Eve | 1m 1f | £15,000 | |||||
Newcastle | 28-Jul-18 | Day | 1m 2f | £11,000 | |||||
Royal Windsor | 30-Jul-18 | Eve | 6f | £10,000 | |||||
Hamilton Park | 04-Aug-18 | Eve | 6f | £12,000 | |||||
Brighton | 09-Aug-18 | Day | 7f | £10,000 | |||||
Bath | 18-Aug-18 | Eve | 1m 3f | £10,000 | |||||
Goodwood | 26-Aug-18 | Day | tbc | £12,000 | |||||
Wolverhampton | 01-Sep-18 | Day | 1m 1f | £10,000 | |||||
Doncaster | 13-Sep-18 | Day | 6f | £20,000 |
05-03-2018
Whilst most of us have been coping with The Beast from the East and Storm Emma for the past few days and deprived of racing here, its good to see some of our amateur jockeys enjoying race riding in warmer climes!
Our winning most lady champion Serena Brotherton enjoyed representing the UK by becoming our first amateur jockey to ride in South America when riding in Hipodromo de Monterrico, Lima, Peru on 24th February. Her first ride was unplaced but her second ride THUNDERING SAINT finished 3rd from a wide draw stepping up from 5f to a mile. It was an exciting finish!
Serena is the first UK amateur jockey to ride in South America and only the second English jockey to ride in Peru ever, with Lester Piggott being the first and he also finished third! Well done Serena!
Huge thanks to our friends Jochi Meza and Sara Torre for their fantastic hospitality and kindness in making this extraordinary experience possible.