Category: Jockey News
22-07-2010
Watch out this weekend girls! The weekend ahead is a busy one for amateurs with the gentlemen looking forward to Salisbury’s historic Carnarvon Cup on Saturday whilst the ladies travel to Ascot for their historic fixture there which is nowadays generously sponsored by Longines.
The following day Carlisle then welcomes the inaugural running of The Stobart Group Lady Riders’ Northern Derby Bowl where a Pequignet watch will be presented to the winning lady rider and the winning owner receiving a perpetual trophy – the Stobart Ladies Northern Derby Bowl. The race is eagerly awaited having been welcomed as our second most valuable race in the amateur lady riders’ calendar after York’s Queen Mother’s Cup.
21-07-2010
Thanks to the amateur rider’s hurdle at Worcester being divided today, an abundance of amateur jockeys were able to enjoy race riding this afternoon alongside the river Severn.
Congratulations to John Mathias, runner-up in the 2009/10 men’s point-to-point championship. Fresh from his Southwell double 10 days ago, he was quick to put on a repeat performance with both horses scoring again, firstly in the opener of the day on hard held Makena and later in the day on favourite Misamon in the handicap hurdle. This takes John into the lead for the gentlemen’s championship on 4 winners already this season. Both horses are trained by John’s boss Dai Rees.
It was also a memorable day for Oliver Garner who rode his first winner under Rules for boss Sean Lycett, having been promised the ride as a birthday present. Many congratulations and Happy Birthday to Olly who is pictured below being led into the winner’s enclosure. His 22nd birthday is in 2 days time.
Photo supplied by AJA
18-07-2010
A scorching pace being set in the last race of the day, the 2 mile chase at Market Rasen today saw Gina Andrews bide her time and go on to take it up from four out and win comfortably for Pam Sly aboard Viable. Well done Gina!
15-07-2010
16 runners went to post at Doncaster this evening for the first race on the card, the Amateur Jockeys Association 5 furlong sprint.
Always up with the pace, Fashion Icon and Serena Brotherton led the field after 2 furlongs and the horse responded gamely to her jockey’s urging a furlong from home to hold on by a short head in a thrilling finish from Victoria Barr and Kyzer Chief with Scott Dobson and Red River Boy a neck away in third. Jacqueline Coward and Arriva La Diva were just over a length back to finish fourth.
Many congratulations to Serena for whom this was her 42nd flat career victory (as well as 1 Hunterchase) and her 3rd winner already this season.
13-07-2010
Congratulations to Serena Brotherton (above left) on a very personal win today at Beverley when she won her family race, the ladies race generously sponsored by her family and run in memory of her late grandmother, Lady Jane Bethell.
The race was eventful to say the least with four non-runners, three of which were withdrawn at the start with one bolting on its way there and two unruly in the stalls. Unfortunately in addition a 4-day ban was handed to Jacqueline Coward as a result of her horse hanging badly during the race before finishing third, having hindered Racheal Kneller on the second.
However, this did not affect the winner Kyle of Bute who was held up by Serena Brotherton midfield before making headway from three furlongs out and ran on strongly to hit the front a furlong out and win comfortably.
Very many congratulations to winning connections on this very special family win. Lady Jane Bethell was from 1944 to 1945 personal assistant to Colonel John H Bevan MC, Controller of Deception in The London Controlling Section – the secret organisation founded by Sir Winston Churchill responsible for military security, crytoanalysis and deception. Consequently, she was one of only a few people entrusted with the knowledge of the intended time, date and place of the Allied D-Day invasion.
13-07-2010
The first race in the inaugural running of the Triple Nations Cup was held in Pompadour by kind invitation of Racecourse President Monsieur Francis Delord.
12 riders were invited to take part from three nations and with temperatures at 38 degrees in Pompadour and firm ground, 8 runners were declared. The riders were: John Dawson, Josh Hamer and Miles Seston (red caps of Great Britain); Andrew Doyle, Richie Harding and Roger Quinlan (green caps of Ireland) with Patrick Paihes and Praphan Phokaeo (blue caps of France).
Much of the early running was made by Josh Hamer but with John Dawson taking a crashing fall in the final circuit, Miles Seston always had the leaders in his sights and kicked on turning for home to win comfortably with Josh taking second place. Patrick Paihes finished in third for France with Roger Quinlan in fourth for Ireland.
Many congratulations to Miles on his first winning ride abroad and a huge thank you to all those in France who so kindly made this possible.
Photo supplied by AJA
12-07-2010
Racing for Change organised a ladies race with a difference as the opener on Friday night’s card when a pro-am race was staged at Chester in aid of Breast Cancer Care. Each lady jockey wore pink colours in a bid to raise £25,000 for the charity.
Ladies pictured on the Weighing Room steps (clockwise from top left): Amy Ryan, Jemma Marshall, Kelly Harrison, Kirsty Milczarek, Miss Michelle Mullineaux, Miss Victoria Barr, Miss Wendy Gibson, Miss Serena Brotherton and Miss Nikki McCaffrey.
Amateur Lady Flat Champion 2009 before turning professional, Amy Ryan completed a double on the day by landing this unique race on Rascal in the Mix, having won earlier in the day at Newmarket.
RFC spokesman Nick Attenborough was delighted with the success of this initiative which was part of a planned campaign to connect with a wider audience.
09-07-2010
Thanks to an introduction by Emma Santer, Manager of Folkestone Racecourse to Francis Delord, President of Pompadour Racecourse which is twinned with Folkestone, this Sunday sees the inaugural running of the Three Nations Cup with representatives from Ireland, France and Great Britain’s amateur jockey associations taking part.
John Dawson, Josh Hamer and Miles Seston represent Great Britain, Andrew Doyle, Richard Harding and Roger Quinland represent Ireland and Patrick Pailhes and Jean-Philippe Boisgontier represent France in the eight runner hurdle. There is currently a heatwave in Pompadour and so they have done well to have this many runners declared with temperatures in the high 30s.
The return match will be held at Ludlow on 11th November and in Ireland at the end of the year. Good luck to Team GB!
06-07-2010
A reminder that all amateur jockeys’ licences expire annually on 31st June and that you should therefore have already applied for your new licence for 2010/2011 by now if you wish to ride under Rules as an amateur jockey.The current licence application form is available by clicking on this link:
amateur_riders_application_form.pdf
together with the medical form on this link:
medical_report_form.pdf
If you have recently had a fall there might be a slight delay in processing your licence due to any necessary medical clearances so please DO NOT DELAY in order to avoid disappointment!
05-07-2010
AJA membership has automatically included insurance for riding out and handling racehorses worldwide since 1st July 2007. Since that time there have been 22 claimants under the scheme, one member claiming twice. Unfortunately, because of these claims, our insurance premiums have risen year on year, and this year’s premium has been calculated at three times its original cost. We would not consider canceling our insurance as it is so highly valued by you all but a major change is necessary in order for the AJA to be able to continue providing this cover.
After consultation with our brokers, as from 1st July 2010 any AJA member who is on a licensed trainer or permit holder’s payroll and is eligible for RIABS (Racing Industry Accident Benefit Scheme) will be asked to claim under RIABS. Members covered by RIABS will be exempt from AJA insurance for riding out. This will enable the AJA to look after our most vulnerable members when they are injured, ie those between jobs or those self-employed or employed outside racing. To bring non-RIABS members into line with stable staff, benefits will increase to £200 per week from our current £100 and our excess will be reduced from its current 40 days to 28 days after injury.
We believe that whilst cover is restricted to those members that are not eligible for RIABS payments, most AJA members will benefit from the policy at some time. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Oliver at the AJA. The good news is that the cost of AJA membership remains unchanged for the time being at £75 for a full year’s subscription.
