September, 5, 2014
by Ross Stanley
An incident on 22 August was yet another link in an endless chain of reminders about the risks that hover over race-riders.
In a three horse fall at Wagga, Brendan Ward suffered a broken neck; Carly Frater incurred facial gashes that required plastic surgery; and Andrew Bloomfield escaped with minor injuries.
On Wednesday, the Raffles Thoroughbred Racing Syndicate donated $20,000 to the National Jockeys Trust.
The group race Sacred Falls, the Doncaster winner that will step out in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Coincidentally, other “sacred falls” will be remembered and honoured on the day.
The families of the late Desiree Gill and the late Simone Montgomerie will be trackside for the unveiling of a statue of Hughie Cairns, the rider who collected elite features with Heroic and Spearfelt.
The former Kiwi perished while partnering Quick Deal in a Moonee Valley jumps race in 1929.
The memorial displays the names of the 870 jockeys who have lost their lives while “at work”.
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A Better Deal For Hoops
On the positive side of the ledger for the hoops is the pay rise and superannuation arrangement that has been announced by Racing Queensland for the state’s riding fraternity.
From 1 October, each ride will be rewarded with a $183.41 return ($167.50 fee plus a 9.5 per cent superannuation contribution).
Next year it will be $170 plus 10 per cent for super, and then $175 plus 10.5 per cent super.
There are complex and convoluted employer-employee relationships at play.
Owners used to hire (and sack) the jockeys, give them their instructions and pay them.
Individual race clubs were the conduit.
Trainers paid the riding fee at the race club’s office. A club official, usually the secretary, would pay the senior riders after they had completed their book of engagements.
Presently the central body – Racing Queensland – has one of the roles in that it provides and administrates the wage payments.
This is a welcome saving for those that put up their hand to bankroll the game’s essential performers.
There is, however, a technical point surrounding the notion of who is the employer.
It has been established that jockeys have been entitled to superannuation since 1992, and there will obviously be significant funding required if the issue of backpay is pressed.
The Australian Tax Office is yet to rule on this matter. The full time whistle is yet to sound on this one!
Jockeys have often been viewed as individual contractors.
When a tradesman such as a painter does not deliver on a job, the house owner has avenues for redress. But if a footballer misses a golden opportunity to score points, there is no immediate or direct financial recourse.
Occupations with a strong element of “sport” in their structure do not (as yet) have those balances to contend with.
Simply put, if a jockey’s error costs connections a race, it is financially just bad luck.
Yes, the rider may be sacked. But that does not alter the non-productive outcome of the effort.
The other interesting twist to “sporting” careers is the see-saw of priorities.
On the one hand, they have to be ultra competitive. But on the other hand, considerations for the safety of their rivals (and mounts in racing) is a necessary counter-weight to unbridled desperation on the paddock.
Referees watch out for dangerous tackles while stewards watch out for similarly hazardous tactics.
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Time For A Sporting Look At New Names
When Aerial Ping Pong, a gelding by Aussie Rules, ran third at Toowoomba recently, thoughts turned to the fact that the football season is reaching its climax just as the owners of two-year-olds are creating names for their young hopefuls.
There are countless examples of horses being named after sporting identities.
Examples from football include Wendell (Straight Sailing-Sally’s Hobo), Beckham (Pins-Glamour Puss), Pele, Baggio, Schillaci and Van Nistleroy.
You’ll Never (from Walk Alone) comes from a Gerry and the Pacemakers hit that resonates around all manner of soccer stadiums.
On the cricketing front, the mare English Wonder produced Dr Grace and Lord Ted, both named after dashing batsmen.
Most of the foals of the Noble Charger mare Courtmarsh were called after Rodney Marsh and his team mates. The list included Well Done Bacchus, Iron Gloves, Outside Edge, Kiss Me Merv (dam of Sheik of Tweak), Master Keeper and Bowled Lillee (dam of Middle Stump, Question Asked, Deekayel and Long Room).
Dr Grace’s son Over, the stallion that James Curtain stands at Kumbia, continued the run with the likes of Benaud, Gavaskar, Lindwall and Boycott, a grandson of Groucho.
From a different angle came Spilt Milk (Over-Crying) while Warne (by Casual Lies) was a tad cheeky.
A misnomer in this field was First Test (All Bar One-Out).
The chestnut was far short of international class, finishing with the tailenders at each of his five visits to the crease.
Century, a grand sprinter prepared by Bart Cummings, had nothing to do with willow hitting leather – the story goes that 99 previous choices by Tom Trevaskis had been turned down by the Registrar.
Tennis has also been fertile forage with Rapid Serve, a daughter of Tennis Partner, providing Australian racing with Swiss Ace and Philippoussis.
On the female side there was Navratilova (Famous Star-Still Playing), Vicario (by Hard Spun) and Miss Kournikova (from On Centre Court). Lady Sharapova and Sabatini are acceptors for southern meetings on Saturday.
In athletics, Saville’s Anguish (Final Card-Splendid Walk) captured the Sydney Olympic agony of Jane Saville, the Australian walker who, after two previous warning cards, was disqualified whilst leading near the stadium entrance.
There was a very different approach to the naming of the nation’s only triple Melbourne Cup winner. Makybe Diva was devised by using the first two letters of Marie, Kylie, Belinda, Diane and Vanessa. The group were workers in the office of the champion’s owner Tony Santic.
Some monickers are excitingly provocative.
Camilla’s Beau, a gelding by Casual Lies out of Royal Infatuation and the recent Melbourne runner Are There Any (from the Distorted Humor mare Honest Politician) are a pair that quickly come to mind.
But sadly, those that took a hot trifecta tip comprising Deep Heat, Sir Blaze and Settheworldonfire for last weekend’s Lockyer Valley Regional Council Cup at Gatton got their fingers burnt…
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Around The Bush
Gatton trainer Caroline Allardyce grabbed her own time in the spotlight when her charge Jo’s Luck came from a long way back to score on home turf last weekend.
Her other starter – Carda Mojo – was the warm-up act.
The Lucky Owners three-year-old was beaten narrowly by fellow local Mustola Gold in the Maiden sprint.
The award winning deeds of apprentice Jimmy Orman were mentioned in despatches last week. This time it was his mother’s turn to be centre-stage.
Bundaberg is the venue for tomorrow’s rural activity. But there is a swag of great spring-time race meetings looming up in the South Burnett.
Nanango’s Heritage Day kicks the run off on 4 October, Wondai follows on Caulfield Cup (18 October) and Kumbia closes it out on Melbourne Cup day (4 November).
Nearer to the coast, Gympie is the place to be on 27 September and on Cox Plate Day (25 October)
