Ascot To Fund Jockey Insurance

Ascot Racecourse will fund the Professional Jockeys Association's Career Ending Insurance scheme for a period of one month while the PJA continues discussions with industry stakeholders to establish a sustainable long-term funding solution.

The scheme pays out a capital sum should a jockey suffer a career-ending injury. The scheme was traditionally funded through commercial sponsorship but for the last two years has been paid for out of PJA reserves, assisted for the last six months by a grant from the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

Jon Holmes, chairman of the PJA, said, “Ascot has always gone above and beyond when it comes to our members. This is yet another example of that and we are incredibly grateful to everyone at Ascot Racecourse. I have been in my role at the PJA since December last year and was surprised to discover that this vital insurance scheme was reliant on commercial sponsorship. Our members, the vast majority of whom earn below the national average salary, put their bodies on the line every time they ride and I share Ascot's determination to find an industry-funded solution.”

Guy Henderson, chief executive at Ascot Racecourse, said, “Jockeys of both codes put themselves at risk of serious injury for our entertainment every day. We strongly believe that it is the industry's responsibility to make sure that there is appropriate protection for them in place in the event of career- ending injury. As we approach the end of the 2021 Royal Meeting, I would like to congratulate and thank them all, especially those who had landmark wins, from Frankie Dettori's 75th to the six who've ridden their first. As always, we have had unstinting support from all the jockeys this week in terms of participating in extensive domestic and international media activities and our own press conferences and opening ceremonies.”

The post Ascot To Fund Jockey Insurance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Letter To The Editor: Move By The Jockeys’ Guild At Monmouth Dangerous, Unfair To Riders

The Jockeys' Guild decision to cancel insurance for jockeys who ride in races at Monmouth Park is vindictive and dangerous.

To proclaim Monmouth's new whip policy “extremely dangerous and is creating an even greater risk to both the equine and human athletes, including the potential for injury and/or loss of life to the jockeys and the horses” is in my opinion an extreme over-dramatization. But to characterize the jockeys' situation as “extremely dangerous” and at the same time refuse to insure them is a new level of histrionics and reveals the Jockeys' Guild to be an organization of bad faith.

As a long-time fan of Thoroughbred racing, I frankly fail to see how not being allowed to whip a horse to make it perform is “dangerous.” The rule does not prohibit the use of the whip if needed to avoid a dangerous situation within a race.

It comes down to an unwillingness on the part of the Jockeys' Guild to adapt to the new realities of public perception of animal welfare. Their punitive and backward approach will cause harm to the very group whose interests they claim to represent.

Holly Brunner, Thoroughbred owner and fan

If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please write to info at paulickreport.com and include contact information where you may be reached if editorial staff have any questions.

The post Letter To The Editor: Move By The Jockeys’ Guild At Monmouth Dangerous, Unfair To Riders appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights