Flat Champions Celebrate Victories

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1 NOVEMBER 2013 Is this not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Flat Champions Celebrate Victories Champion Jockey, Richard Hughes celebrated retaining his Flat racing crown on the final day of the season at Doncaster on 9th November. Paul Struthers presented the trophy to Richard. The Champion Apprentice title went to Jason Hart who achieved 51 winners, eleven more than his closest rival Tom Brown. Hayley Turner again won the Prolinx Lady Jockeys Championship. She picked up her trophy from Andy Weller at Doncaster together with Rossip Jessop, winner of the silver category and Jenny Ferguson who picked up the bronze award. Congratulations to all of the Champions.

2 The Stobart Lesters 2014 We can announce that the 2014 Stobart Lesters ceremony will be held on Monday 22nd December the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. It has traditionally been held in the spring on the eve of Good Friday when there was no racing in Britain. However, the decision by the British Horseracing Authority to allow fixtures on Good Friday in 2014 has forced us to change the date. We hoped that having introduced racing on Good Friday the BHA might trail a blank day elsewhere in the calendar but that suggestion did not meet with a favourable response. We surveyed jockeys to find a new date in the calendar and the preference was to hold the Stobart Lesters on the Monday before Christmas as there is no racing on Tuesday 23rd December. Racing that day takes place at Bangor, Kempton and Wolverhampton so with a little help from the BHA and racecourses regards to the race programme and race times it won t be difficult for people to get to the Birmingham. The delay by eight months means that the next Stobart Lesters the 24th occasion on which it has been held will celebrate two calendar years, 2013 and Tickets to the 2014 Stobart Lesters which will once again be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole - will go on sale in the New Year and voting for the 2013 winners will also take place in early 2014, with more details to follow in the January newsletter. REGULATORY MATTERS Flat Jockeys Given 1lb Winter Weight Allowance from 2 December The BHA Board and Rules Committee have approved a proposal from the PJA for all Flat jockeys to be permitted a 1lb weight allowance in the months of December, January and February to enable them to wear an extra item of clothing.

3 The trial is designed to make winter riding conditions more comfortable for jockeys and has been implemented for Flat jockeys only. This is because it tends to be the case that All-Weather fixtures will continue to take place when Jump meetings are frozen off. Added to this All-Weather meetings are often held after dark, when temperatures drop further. The PJA approached the BHA earlier this year regarding allowing Flat Jockeys a winter weight allowance of 1lbs during December, January and February and are pleased this has been approved as a trial from 2nd December. It mirrors what happens in other countries where they race in cold climates and will be of significant benefit to jockeys when riding in very cold temperatures. We would like to thank Dr Turner and Ruth Quinn for their support and would certainly hope that, if the trial passes without any issues, this is something that can be rolled out across both codes. Therefore from the 1st December 2013 to 28th February 2014 all jockeys riding in Flat races on the AW Weather tracks will have 3lb before weighing out, not 2lb. Prize Money Agreements 2014 A total of 39 racecourses have signed Prize Money Agreements with the Horsemen s Group and BHA 53 of 58 racecourses have now signed Prize Money Agreements or commitments Catterick, Hexham, Plumpton, Redcar and Towcester are in discussions with BHA regarding their prize money commitments for 2014 The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horsemen s Group have announced that the process of instigating Prize Money Agreements between racecourses, the Horsemen s Group and BHA has been completed for 2014, with a total of 39 racecourses signing three-year agreements. The eight further racecourses to have signed Prize Money Agreements are Ripon, who have signed at the Premier tier, and Fakenham, Leicester, Newton Abbot, Stratford, Taunton, Thirsk and Wetherby who have all signed at the Standard tier. 2. The following racecourses or groups have now signed Prize Money Agreements with the Horsemen s Group and BHA: Ascot Premier Ayr Standard Beverley Standard Cartmel - Standard Chester / Bangor Group Premier Fakenham - Standard Ffos Las Standard

4 Goodwood Premier Hamilton Standard Jockey Club Group Premier Kelso Standard Leicester - Standard Ludlow Standard Musselburgh Standard Newbury Premier Newton Abbot - Standard Perth Standard Pontefract Premier Ripon - Premier Salisbury Standard Stratford - Standard Taunton - Standard Thirsk - Standard Wetherby - Standard York Premier Re-Mounting - A Reminder Jockeys are not allowed to remount during the race. You may remount to hack back to the unsaddling area ONLY if the horse has been checked by a vet. When your horse has fallen or you have been unseated the PJA strongly advise, that whenever possible, in the interest of safety to your fellow riders you should take all measures to catch or keep a hold of your mount whenever possible. MEDICAL MATTERS - Dr Anna-Louise Mackinnon, the PJA Doctor can be contacted on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is the name given to a form of irreversible, progressive brain damage which is linked to repeated mild trauma to the brain. The long term effects of this condition include depression, movement and coordination disorders, personality change, aggression and dementia. CTE has recently been the subject of media coverage as a result of a $765 million legal action brought by 4,500 retired players against the NFL. Currently there is no screening test available for CTE and little is known about who might be susceptible to developing CTE or how to prevent it. The main UK Sports Governing Bodies have therefore agreed

5 that the best way to protect sportsmen and women is to ensure that anyone who sustains a head injury is fully assessed before being allowed to return to play. This includes athletes diagnosed with concussion who are recommended to follow a graduated exercise program before being passed as fit to return to sport by a suitably qualified and trained doctor. The BHA concussion screening assessment is currently under review and a revised version will be coming into effect in Dental Matters National Health Service Dentists It is advisable to be registered with a Dental practice Jockeys requiring the services of a NHS dentist can find one local to them via the NHS direct website. Click here to go straight to the page. Jockeys who have Private Medical Insurance may be able to request financial help from the IJF for dental treatment if required. Please contact Dr Anna-Louise Mackinnon or your local IJF Almoner for further details. Portman Heathcare The PJA is delighted to be working closely with Portman Healthcare who offer a range of discounted dental treatments and services to all PJA members including: Individual discounts on all dental treatments Access to their top specialists Cost price mouth guard Free consultation for implants / prosthetic treatment In addition, the Portman Care Plan will be available to anyone within the racing industry at a cost of 15 per month, which provides: 2 annual check ups 2 annual hygiene appointments Oral cancer screening Worldwide dental accident insurance For further information, please visit and to book an appointment, please contact Lee Jackson on or by lee.jackson@portmanhealthcare.co.uk

6 MEMBERS SERVICES Don't Pay Over the Odds for Insurance - Special Deals for Jockeys! As a professional Jockey, arranging cover for your car and home is not as straight forward as using a price comparison site. Insurers will often categorise you as high risk. At ProSport we help to ensure that you get the right cover without paying over the odds. We have developed relationships with a panel of insurers and, using our experience and customer profiles, have negotiated specialised policies that give Jockeys the best possible cover. It doesn t matter how many miles you do or what you drive, from cars, vans and bikes to motorhomes and horseboxes. In fact ProSport not only offers PJA Jockeys FREE Legal Expenses Cover* we provide a personalised, over the phone service with one of our account executives who will be there for you 24/7 for a quote, policy amendments and when you need to claim. So if you are looking for personal, motor insurance advice without trawling the internet, simply call the ProSport Team on and quote The PJA. For full details of all policies available from ProSport visit *Terms & Conditions apply. Offers are only available until 31st December 2013 and where an insurer has confirmed that they are willing to offer a car or home insurance quotation and for Free Legal Expenses cover. ProSport is a trading style of Brightside Insurance Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm reference No ). Registered in England & Wales No Registered Office: MMT Centre, Severn Bridge, Aust, Bristol BS35 4BL. VAT No Riding Abroad this Winter? Emergency Medical Expenses Members are automatically covered by the PJA s Group Travel Scheme for 60 days from date of departure from the UK. If you are going away for longer you can extend this cover for up to six months for an additional premium. Details can be obtained from the PJA office or by clicking here

7 The Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme Ollie McPhail wins the Richard Davis Award. Ollie McPhail won the Griffins Achievement Award which goes to the candidate judged to have achieved the most in developing a second career over the past year. Ollie is now the Lead Education Officer of Racing to School. Ollie received his award at Cheltenham from Bob Fiddler, Partner in Griffins accountants, Newbury who are the long term sponsors of the award., For more information and pictures from the day click here. Padded Hurdle Design Trial at Newton Abbot Racecourse Extended The BHA and Newton Abbot Racecourse have announce the continuation of the trial of the One-Fit padded hurdle design for a second year, having received approval for further funding from BHA s Grant Scheme. The extension of the trial follows positive feedback and encouraging early statistical data about the performance of the hurdle in reducing faller and injury rates. The trial of the One-Fit padded hurdle at Newton Abbot has generally been well received amongst jockeys, the PJA fully support the new hurdles being used next season at Newton Abbot, on a continued trial basis. Go Racing in Yorkshire Winter Festival, 26th - 29th December - Leading Trainer and Jockey Championship The winning Trainer and Jockey will each win an overnight stay for two with Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at Raithwaite Hall near Whitby and will be presented with a small memento. The Competition will be run on a points score accumulator over the 4 days of racing. Embarrassing Bodies Mavericktv are looking for male jockeys who smoke but would like to quit to take part in an episode of embarrassing bodies. The episode is all about fertility and they would like to demonstrate how sperm is currently effected by smoking and how sperm improves after quitting over several months. There is no nudity involved and the tv company would provide help and support with quitting smoking. The program aims to be lots of fun as well as educational for the volunteers and viewers watching at home.

8 10 male smokers/jockeys are required in total with filming starting in the very near future. It would involve, but could change, some backstory footage of the jockey s perhaps riding at the racecourse to introduce who they are and then filming at the lab or our clinic to take part in the demonstrations. Mavericktv would arrange travel etc and can be flexible around work commitments; however they cannot pay the volunteers to take part. ITV - This Morning Programme ITV This Morning programme are trying to break the world record for the largest pantomime horse race. They are doing it on the 5th December at Kempton Park Racecourse and need people to take part in the morning with the activity finishing by 12.30pm. ITV are providing costumes, food and Drink. If there is a huge amount of interest and there is a collection of Jockey's who would like to take part they may be able to organise a coach from the same area. The record breaking attempt is in aid of ITV's Text Santa scheme which is this year supporting 6 charities - Clic Sargent, British Heart Foundation, Beat Bullying, Help the Hospices, Age UK and Bernados. For further details contact Sam Palmano Sam.Palmano@itv.com Anyone interested should embarrassingbodies@mavericktv.co.uk Racing Excellence Leader boards Racing Excellence A/W Series George Buckell Racing Excellence Conditional Training Race Jump Series Diarmuid O Regan Racing Excellence Conditional Hands and Heels Series Kieron Edgar

9 PJA Office Christmas opening/closing 24th -26th December Office Closed Friday 27th Office open Wednesday 1st January Office Closed Thursday 2nd January - Business as usual! When the office is closed, if your call is urgent, please call the main office number where you can get individual PJA team members mobile numbers from the answer phone message. PJA ON THE COURSE A member of the PJA Team will attend the following race meetings: DECEMBER 4 Catterick (Dale Gibson); 10 Southwell (Dale Gibson); 11 Leicester (Clare Hazell), Lingfield (Paul Struthers), 13 & 14 Cheltenham (Paul Struthers), 18 Newbury (Paul Struthers) Disclaimer The PJA is not responsible or liable for any actions taken from use of content and opinion expressed within this publication. The Professional Jockeys Association wishes to make it clear that it does not endorse any particular product or supplier and cannot be held responsible in the event of a dispute or loss arising from any arrangement entered into with any Company or individual whose advertisement or promotion accompanies this letter. Anyone intending to enter into a contract or acquire goods or services offered by such advertisements should satisfy themselves as to the bona fides of the advertiser and of the goods or services being offered.