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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“The concern from Government is very clear: these are exceptional times and a travel ban with the UK is a once-in-a-generation occurrence,” said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh. “Irish racing has followed Government advice at all times during COVID-19 and will continue to do so. In that regard, we are advising that no Irish-trained horses or jockeys should travel to the UK for competition between now and Dec. 31, and no UK horses or jockeys should travel in the opposite direction.”

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“It’s positive news,” said Irish Jockeys Association Secretary Andrew Coonan to Racing Post. “Flat riders travelling abroad will be helped by this but principally at the moment it will impact jumps riders.

“In any event, they have limited opportunities and those opportunities were cut through Covid, so anything that will assist them to help make up some of the deficit is positive and welcomed.”

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“Following precautionary tests taken over the weekend, jockey Danny Sheehy has returned a positive test for COVID-19,” Horse Racing Ireland said in a statement. “He was asymptomatic prior to the test and is now self-isolating. Contact tracing continues.

“All other tests taken over the weekend, including contact tracing and those at the yard of Joseph O’Brien, returned negative.”

Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Senior Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Pugh added, “We are liaising with public health in assisting them with contact tracing and all of their requirements. Public health are satisfied with all approaches we have taken and we will continue to be in regular communication.”

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