July 24, 2015
Whilst August 1 signals the beginning of a brand new racing season, the date is also an opportunity for appreciative reflection.
Saturday week is the National Jockeys Trust Celebration Day.
Nanango will join a host of racecourses across Australia in celebrating the achievements of former and current jockeys and, most importantly, in commemorating those who have lost their lives.
The principal purpose of the National Jockeys Trust is to provide support for jockeys and their families who need help as a result of serious injury, illness or death.
The National Jockeys Trust has provided assistance to over 200 jockeys who have been ill or injured, and to the families of riders who have been killed. Their helpful funding has exceeded $2 million.
Lee Park’s ceremony will be conducted prior to the running of the opening event, the Com.Pub Nanango Cup.
The reminders are stark.
A number riders that donned silk at some stage at South-East country and Burnett courses have been tragically taken.
The list includes Desiree Gill, Craig Erikson, Ken Russell, Carly Mae-Pye, Corey Gilby, Lianne Crook, Billy Barnes, Leigh-Ann Goodwin and Heidi McNeish.
Naoki Ogura, last year’s happy Nanango Cup winning jockey, has been off the scene since his fall at Kilcoy in June.
There are 840 jockeys registered in Australia and here are some NJT statistics that underpin high risks in being jockey.
- In excess of 870 Australian jockeys have been killed in race falls since 1847
- Approximately 200 riders are injured each year on Australian racetracks
- Combined with trackwork, we have nearly 500 falls annually.
- 89 per cent of jockeys will have a fall that requires medical assistance
- 9 per cent have fallen more than 20 times
- Each year, 40 per cent of jockeys will have a fall that will prevent them from riding for an average of 5 weeks.
- Approximately 5 per cent of these falls would be termed career-ending injuries
- Over 50 per cent of Australian jockeys earn less than $60,000 per year (before expenses)
- It is estimated that in the next 10 years we will see 10-12 jockey deaths and 50 jockeys will suffer career ending injuries including paraplegia, quadriplegia and severe brain injury.
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Get Ready For Fun At Nanango
Next Saturday the Nanango Race Track should be packed for the Nanango Cup meeting, which is always one of the club’s biggest meetings of the year.
On a race day when “Beautiful Black and Wonderful White” is the Moffatdale Ridge Wines spot judging fashion theme, patrons can show their interest in the activities of the knights and dames of the pigskin by taking up a fascinating offer: a mini-bus ride to observe the assembly, loading and despatch of a field can be booked at the Secretary’s office.
Watching the first few strides of a race up close is a special experience.
An alternative is to watch the Com.Pub Nanango Cup parade from the birdcage fence nearest to the airstrip.
From there both the mile barrier jump and the battle down the straight can be observed.
Also on the agenda are the presentations for the Horse Of The Year (Captain Clayton), Top Jockey (Hannah Phillips) and Top Trainer (Patrick Sexton).
Meanwhile, the South-East Country Racing Association Premierships seem to be resolved in favour of Jason Missen (Jockey) and Billie-Rose Derbyshire (Apprentice), while Barry Gill appears to have his hands firmly on the Trainer’s title.
Kerry Munce would seem to need an absolute field day at Gympie on Saturday to snatch a last stride victory.
All contests are subject to final validation.
The onset of the new season is also the best time to consider joining your local race club.
Enquiries for the Nanango Race Club can be directed to Rosemary Hansen (4163-2346), and the savings are enormous.
A single membership is only $35 for the six meetings. A member and guest package costs $66 while the “25 and Under” category is a mere $25.
For comparison, general public admission is $10 per race day.
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Gympie’s Historic Moment
The gallops program at Southside on Saturday runs from 12:15pm to 3:00pm. The early time-frame accommodates the three harness events that kick off after the track has been prepared at 3:50pm.
Kilcoy and Beaudesert have already staged grass track trotting. and Gympie’s smaller circuit will certainly be conducive to clear, dynamic viewing.
The 1500 metre long competitions will start at the top of the straight, thus giving patrons the chance to pick up their fancy and follow the pacer throughout.
One difficult aspect of harness racing on thoroughbred tracks has been visibility along the back stretch.
The field (fortunately quite small at Gympie) is much further away than with the traditional half-mile circuits.
Head numbers and gear help distinguish runners whose drivers are obscured by the torsos of inside horses.
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More News On Racing Reforms
Racing Minister Bill Byrne has provided some more information about planning for the financial reform of Queensland’s racing industry. Last week’s media release was as follows:
Tracking To Sustainability: The Future Of Racing In Queensland
July 17, 2015
Industry consultation will be undertaken in August and September 2015 to develop a plan for a sustainable future for the racing industry.
Clubs, trainers, jockeys, drivers, owners, breeders, unions and animal welfare groups will all be consulted.
Individuals will also have an opportunity to have a say, either through their stakeholder organisation, or they can fill in a feedback form which will be available on this website from August 4, 2015.
Consultation will explore funding solutions to halt ongoing losses for Racing Queensland, which is currently facing a budgeted loss of $28 million in 2015-16.
This includes input from the racing industry on where savings can be made to get racing back on a sustainable footing for the long term.
The following groups and associations will be invited to send a representative to industry meetings.
Thoroughbred
- Queensland Racehorse Owners’ Association
- Queensland Jockeys’ Association
- Australian Trainers’ Association Queensland
- Queensland Trainers’ Association
- Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association
- Magic Millions
- All TAB Racing Clubs
- Country Racing Associations from each region
Harness
- BOTRA – Breeders, Owners, Trainers and Reinspersons Association
- Albion Park Harness Racing Club
- Redcliffe Harness Racing Club
- Marburg Harness Racing Club
- Gold Coast Harness Club
Greyhounds
- Queensland Greyhounds Affiliation
- All greyhound racing clubs in Queensland
Groups
- RSPCA
- Animal Welfare League Queensland
- Animal Liberation Qld
- Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland
- Australian Veterinary Association (Queensland Division)
- Other key animal welfare groups
The following groups and associations will also be consulted:
National organisations
- Racing Australia
- Harness Racing Australia
- Greyhounds Australasia
Revenue providers
- UBET
- Sky
- Wagering Council
- Corporate Wagering Service Providers
- Bookmakers Association
Other
- Local Government Association of Queensland
Employees
- Racing Queensland
- Office of Racing Regulation
- Racing Science Centre
- Employee unions
A discussion paper and online feedback form will soon be available on the Racing Queensland website.
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The Contest Ahead Has Survival As The Prize
With respect to the process outlined above, all codes and sectors will be keen to leave the barrier speedily, get into a strong position and push a successful case.
One concerning side issue relates to the production (or non-production) of a key mandated document: the preparation of Annual Report for the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board for 2014-15, which lies in no man’s land at the moment.
The 2013-14 edition, dated 29 August 2014, was addressed to the relevant Minister by the Chairman of the Board.
It detailed the financial and non-financial performance of the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board trading as Racing Queensland from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.
It highlighted “the work, achievements, activities and strategic initiatives of Racing Queensland” and satisfied “the requirements of Queensland’s Financial Accountability Act 2009.”
As far as the public knows, there is a total void at present.
There is no Board and no caretaker arrangements for this level have been published since the sackings in May.
This year’s edition of the document would certainly inform discussion.
