Horse Racing Ireland will increase the minimum and maximum weights allowed for jockeys under both codes.
From Feb. 1, the minimum weight will be increased three pounds to 8st 7lb for flat races, four pounds to 10st for National Hunt races and three pounds to 10st 7lb for Qualified Rider races. The changes were decided based upon recommendations from a cross-industry Jockeys Supports Working Group set up by the HRI Programmes Committee.
Dr. Jennifer Pugh, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's Senior Medical Officer, said, “I very much welcome these changes to the weight structures which are crucial as we continue to improve the physical and mental health of our jockeys. I look forward to close collaboration with HRI through its equuip division and our other supportive industry partners as we continue to improve our educational and wellbeing supports, to ensure healthy weight making practices become the norm. I wish to thank HRI and the Jockeys Supports Working Group for their time and support in recent months in achieving these changes.”
Jason Morris, HRI director of racing, said, “HRI has taken a number of recent measures which will be of assistance to the health and welfare of jockeys, including the permanent retention of 48-hour declarations, which allows jockeys longer preparation for weights, and the introduction of breaks in the season under both codes. The HRI Programmes Committee accepted the advice received from the Jockeys Supports Working Group to retain the 2lb increase introduced in June 2020 on a permanent basis and to go further in raising the minimum weights under both codes, noting that these measures were supported by the Irish Jockeys Association.”
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