THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: HOW WILL A 2KG ALLOWANCE WEIGH IN ON THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES?

By Graham Potter | Sunday, February 12, 2017

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

In March, France will become the first major racing authority to introduce a separate jockey’s allowance specifically for female riders ... and by so doing they have opened up a gender, equal rights and fairness debate across all racing countries.

When implemented a 2kg weight allowance will come into effect for all woman jockeys. That 2kg concession will come on top of any allowances already claimed by woman apprentices with the overall allowance limit set at 4.5kg.

It will cover nearly all races below Class 1 level, estimated to total close to ninety per cent of the French racing programme.

The French authorities’ decision was motivated by a simple premise ... to encourage owners and trainers to give more opportunities to female riders.

Reaction to the new rule, to say the least, has been mixed.

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This eventuality raises two obvious questions.

One, is giving female riders an extra allowance really the best way to improve their prospects?

Secondly, does the 2kg allowance balance out any inequality between male and female riders, in terms of strengths and weaknesses, or does it give females an unfair advantage?

Now we are entering dangerous territory argument-wise ... but these are the practical considerations with regard to any weight advantage being brought into a racing equation.

Many woman jockeys take pride in the fact that their sport allows them to compete against their male counterparts on equal terms.

The crux of the matter is whether that is in fact an equal contest?

More danger.

I think, for the most part, it is. Horse sense, balance, tactical thinking, getting the horse to relax, working with the horse, getting it to run for you are all certainly not the preserve of the male jockey so there is little to question there ... but just how much does the physical strength of the rider count in a driving finish?

To me the strength factor remains an open question.

I believe a horse can lift itself and give something more under a particular rider (male or female) as much as any rider can lift a horse over the line with pure strength.

Better jockeys are just better jockeys.

Not everybody will agree and it has taken a new 2kg allowance in a foreign country to reignite the old ‘gender battle’ debate.

Which brings us back to questions one and two.

Like I said ... dangerous territory!