Category: Jockey News
05-09-2008
There is currently a dearth of European gentlemen jump jockeys able to take part in the Fegentri Series and as a result Fegentri have arranged for a residential jumping course to take place at The Northern Racing College soon. (Currently there is no Fegentri jump race for lady jockeys and therefore apologies to lady jump jockeys but this course is only for gentleman jockeys.)
A free place is available for a Category A amateur gentleman jockey to attend a residential jumping course at The Northern Racing College, Doncaster, from Monday 15th September to Friday 19th September.
Arrival should be on Sunday afternoon or early evening, 14th September. This course is being funded by FEGENTRI and we are most grateful to them for this opportunity for one lucky jockey who wishes to gain valuable experience under the watchful eye of a tutor. Accommodation and meals will be paid for by FEGENTRI and travel to Doncaster will be paid for by the AJA. The ideal applicant will be a member of the AJA, hold an amateur jockey’s licence and will have race ridden at least on the Flat if not over jumps, and will have had some experience of schooling at home.
If you would like to put your name forward for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to have a week of expert tuition, then please do not delay and contact Sarah Oliver at the AJA either by e-mail at sph.oliver@btinternet.com or by phone on 01886 884488 or 07789 935399.
02-09-2008
Unlike 2007’s return match of the Anglo-Irish Ladies challenge which was abandoned at Newton Abbot due to waterlogging, this year’s return match on 20th August was lucky to survive an inspection with a repeat in the weather! Sponsored for the first time by AT THE RACES, only 6 runners went to post, 2 teams of 3 each, with Ireland represented by Sharon Dunphy, Jacqueline Kidd and Lisa O’Neill and Great Britain represented by Faye Bramley, Gemma Gracey-Davison and Zoe Lilly. Setting a very steady pace, the girls took their time, with the tempo increasing in the final home straight and Gemma Gracey-Davison looking the likely winner at the penultimate flight. However, Jacqueline Kidd quickened away in a driving finish to secure this year’s series for Ireland. Jacqui is of course no stranger to us, having won the runner-up slot to Rose Davidson in this year’s 2007/2008 Ladies NH Amateur Jockey Championship as well as winning the 2008 Cadale Ladies Hurdle Series this spring. Many thanks to At The Races for their generous sponsorship (and great interviews!) and to Limerick and Newton Abbot racecourses (especially Jason Loosemoore and Angus Houston) for their great support, and we look forward to the 2008/2009 challenge which will return with fresh teams to Limerick this November and Newton Abbot next summer.
01-09-2008
The Amateur Jockeys Association
of Great Britain
NORTHERN DINNER DANCE
Saturday 22nd November 2008
THE RICHMOND SUITE
SCOTCH CORNER HOTEL
JUNCTION A1/A66 RICHMOND
NR DARLINGTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Black Tie
Dinner 7.30 pm
Pate
Roast Pork with seasonal vegetables (Vegetarian option available )
Banoffee Tartlets
Coffee & Mints
Bar from 6.00 pm until 1.00 am
Carriages at 1.30 am
TICKETS @ £40 EACH
(CHEQUES PAYABLE TO AJA)
FROM:
Carol Bartley 07734 303862
Serena Brotherton 07740 257110
Accommodation at discounted rate
if booked by 8th November (quote ‘AJA’)
Double B&B @ £70; Single B&B @ £45
Tel: 01748 850900
17-08-2008
Serena Brotherton’s initiative was rewarded when she steered Alan King’s Aypeeyes to victory at Newbury to take the richest ladies race in the world, the Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby. Having studied the entries, Serena sent off a fax to the trainer earlier in the week asking if she could be considered for the ride.
In a race where nobody seemed to want to go on and make the running, the closely bunched field did not quicken until they hit the home straight. Always going well within himself and wearing a visor for the first time, Aypeeyes held off The King And I ridden by Claire Allen to win by 1 1/2 lengths with Hayley Moore and Guardian of Truth 1/2 a length away in 3rd and Katherine Hobbs holding 4th on Oldrik.
The series, extended for the first time this year to include 8 races in all, continues with 2 races left to be held at Salisbury on 29th August and 1st October before returning to Newbury for the finale on 25th October, when the winning series rider will collect her prize of a holiday worth £1,500 kindly donated by Wayne and Sarah Clifford of Bathwick Tyres. This Derby victory takes Serena Brotherton into the lead with 20 points, whilst Gemma Gracey-Davison and Amy Ryan have 17 points each and Emily Jones has 15 points. The complete table appears within the Tables section of this website.
Pictured above are winning connections – trainer Alan King, Aypeeyes’s lass, Serena Brotherton, Sarah Clifford of Bathwick Tyres and trainer’s wife Rachel King.
04-08-2008
AMY RYAN, who won the opening lady amateur riders’ handicap 12 months ago at Carlisle, maintained her 100 per cent record with a repeat performance on Emirate Isle owned and bred by John Wade. Amy produced the Chris Grant-trained four-year-old with a strong late run to get the better of favourite Emperor’s Well by a neck. “I’m thrilled,” said Amy, who was riding her 12th winner in her career to date and her third of this season. “I thought he had a chance of winning and he’s done it well in the end.” Chris Grant was full of praise for the winning rider, who had won the corresponding race last year on the David Nicholls-trained Kabis Amigos. “Amy has given him a good ride,” said Grant. The stewards took a close look at the race and suspended Amy for careless riding and Jacqueline Coward, rider of the runner-up, for using her whip with excessive frequency. Both bans span two days and will be served on days to be notified. Amy went on to saddle 2 winners for her trainer father Kevin, making a unique treble for her on the night . 
18-07-2008
Click here for large photos: gemmawinsnorway2008.jpg 
Both of our Fegentri riders, Gemma Gracey-Davison and Danny Cook, are riding out of their skins and have won their last two races for Great Britain to gain valuable points and take them into the top three in their respective battles for the Fegentri Championships! Gemma won the ladies Flat race in Norway which gave her 20 points and took her into 2nd place for the ladies title. 10 days later at Stratford-upon-Avon on 13th July Danny won the men’s Fegentri hurdle race kindly sponsored by the Birmingham Mail, giving him 15 points and taking him into 3rd place for the men. Gemma rides in Germany this weekend at Dusseldorf before riding in Sweden on Friday and then Deauville in early August; Danny rides in the water race in Bad Hartburg, Germany next weekend before joining Gemma to ride in Deauville. Whilst there, they will both represent Great Britain in the Fegentri World Cup of Nations, in which Britain currently is unbeaten for 2008 thanks to winning rides from Scott Dobson in Italy and Ben Brisbourne in Germany in the first two legs of this contest. Congratulations to all winning riders! Group photo: Back row: David Turner, Tristan Davidson, Ian Popham, Nick Pearce, Will Biddick, Danny Cook, Donal MacAuley (IRE), Ian Chanin; Middle row: Sandy Murphy (Vice President Fegentri), Sarah Oliver, Gay Kindersley, Susanna Santesson (General Secretary Fegentri); Front row: Paul-Henri de Quatrebarbes (FR), Jeremy Mahot, Mark Wall, Daniel Wirenstal (SWE).
02-07-2008
The AJA annual membership, which runs for a complete 12 months, is subject to an increase of £5 from 1st July 2008 to £75 per annum. This represents fantastic value for money as it includes automatic worldwide insurance for all members against temporary injury whilst riding out or handling a racehorse or point-to-pointer, with incapacity benefit of £100 per week payable after the first 31 days of injury for up to 104 weeks. There is an upper age limit of 70 years of age. Please note that this cover does not include any capital benefits (such as death or permanent disability) but simply offers financial assistance whilst incapacitated.
Amateur jockeys are also insured from weigh out to weigh in on the racecourse against injury, with incapacity benefit of £250 per week payable after the first 28 days of injury for up to 104 weeks, together with cover against medical expenses, permanent injury and death, and many other benefits.
Please note that if you are an amateur jockey who point-to-points, you are insured for this against injury from weigh out to weigh in within the fee paid for your point-to-point licence, which is a separate insurance policy from either of the above.
As an amateur jockey you also benefit from the opportunity to attend a Category B course free of charge at either the Northern Racing College, Doncaster or the British Racing School, Newmarket, subject to the criteria set down.
Help and advice on all matters concerning amateur race riding is always available at the AJA, such as medical issues, licences, jockey sponsorship, insurance, appeals and Rules of Racing.
Don’t forget that you can be included in the Riders Directory on this website by contacting the AJA. This is a useful directory for trainers looking for amateur jockeys so advertise your skills!
As an AJA member, you are automatically a member of FEGENTRI, the international organisation which co-ordinates amateur races worldwide. You must have ridden at least 5 winners to participate as well as be comfortable with doing 9 stone for ladies and 10 stone for gentlemen. Other occasional opportunities also exist for you to represent Great Britain.
01-07-2008
mariekingpontywin2008-001.jpg
JOY OF RACING
A beaming Marie King after winning the amateur riders’ handicap at Pontefract yesterday.
Many congratulations to Marie, our Fegentri representative for 2007, on her success. Peter Hiatt and Marie teamed-up to land the 1m2f lady amateur riders’ handicap with Coral Shores, who had one and a quarter lengths to spare over Gala Sunday ridden by Serena Brotherton. Emma Ramstrom, rider of fourth-placed Gulf Coast, was suspended for three days (dates to be notified) for careless riding.
26-06-2008
All amateur jockeys are reminded that Permits to ride expire on 30th June!
Application forms and details of the revised BHA Assessment of concussion protocol have already been sent out from Shaftesbury Avenue to all current amateur jockeys. Forms should be returned immediately to:
Licensing Department, BHA, 151 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8AL
Please note that at least 2 weeks should be allowed before your new licence is issued and returned to you!
If you have any queries, please call Laura Monger on 0207 189 3848 or e-mail Laura on lmonger@britishhorseracing.com. If you have difficulties getting through, you can call the AJA and ask for assistance.
21-06-2008
Many congratulations to Alyson Deniel in scoring at Ripon to make it three wins from her last three rides which started at Chester last week, then the Queen Mother’s Cup at York and finally Ripon’s Ladies Derby, which she won in fine style for her guv’nor John Quinn. She also got the Star Performance mention in today’s Racing Post which said: Alyson Deniel, who followed up last week’s successes at Chester and York, in the Queen Mother’s Cup, with a wide-margin success on Master Nimbus in the Ladies’ Derby to make it three wins from her last three rides.
