FROM THE SHERIFF'S DESK: $10 MILLION RACES AND 2KG ALLOWANCES - THE DEBATE CONTINUES

By John Schreck | Friday, February 10, 2017

John Schreck, a former Chief Steward in both Sydney and Hong Kong, has seen both the colourful and the dark sides of racing. His wealth of experience and his deep knowledge of racing matters across the board is unquestioned and the reputation he built as a racing ‘lawman’ remains firmly entrenched in racing’s history. Shreck’s personal blog, ‘From the Sheriff’s Desk', appears exclusively on HRO.

The surprise announcement by Racing NSW of a new $10 million race, The Everest, with revolutionary entry conditions is a multifaceted story with many layers.

The big benefit, of course, is that it has already generated an enormous amount of interest and publicity ... and racing certainly needs that. That’s one side of it, but there is very much two sides to this story.

There are also clearly a number of concerns surrounding both the concept itself and the positioning of the race.

For example, as far as the concept is concerned, if MR X from Oakey comes up with the another Bernborough but he doesn’t have the $600 000 required to buy a slot in the new race then, no doubt, wheeling and dealing will take place behind the scenes between Mr X and someone who has the $600 000 to get the next Bernborough into the race.

That is one way in which the race conditions allow that sort of situation to unfold. Now I am not a big fan of all that behind closed doors stuff which will inevitably go on ... and I also worry about concepts which might favour (or be seen to favour) the rich ... that is, I worry about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

To be fair, it is early days, and we would have to see how things actually work out in practise before we can really approve or condemn, but a concern is a concern nevertheless.

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With regard to the scheduling of the race (for October), I know it has been said that the Sydney is not chasing the Melbourne Cup prize-money but, prima facie, that is what seems to be happening and that, I think, would be a mistake in the long term.

My view is that if you were to think that New South Wales is not trying to eat into the Melbourne Spring you would probably also be expecting Santa Claus to come down the chimney at Christmas time.

There is simply no need for New South Wales to try and challenge the Melbourne Spring. Leave the Melbourne Spring to Melbourne. It’s unbeatable anyway, so why bother.

I just wonder where the national racing scene is going when this particular race is programmed to take place in Sydney on the first major day of the Melbourne Spring.

It certainly does not bode well for future interstate relations. Clearly they were heading in different directions with certain management decisions even before today and I would think this is only going to strain those relations all the more ... which, from the sports point of view, is a big, big shame.

There is nothing at all wrong with trying to improve and further empower your own product but there is a bigger, national picture in play which should always be given careful and respectful consideration.

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Another story which has prompted a fair amount of ‘for and against’ commentary is the decision by racing authorities in France to bring in a jockey’s allowance for female riders, beginning in March, in that country.

For my part, I can see the logic in that decision.

In Hong Kong, the local Chinese riders are given an allowance well after they finish their apprenticeship ... that is until they have ridden a certain number of winners ... to try and encourage local owners and trainers to use them against the high profile expatriates riding there.

I haven’t worked in Hong Kong for some time of course but, from what I can see from afar, it seems to have worked quite well.

The French authorities are using the same principle with a twist. This time, as they have stated, the female allowance is to encourage owners and trainers to give female riders more opportunities.

The allowance will not apply to Group races ... which I think is wise and a good way to go about it.

I know some female riders have come out against the idea but what I would say to all of those who are critical of the French decision ... what is the downside to it?

We could get into all kinds of gender, equality and fairness debates, but I honestly can’t see any downside to it and maybe what the French authorities are doing will indeed create more opportunities for more females, particularly light weight riders, to get into and stay in the game.

It wouldn’t be cast in stone. In years to come if females start to dominate because of the allowance the matter can be revisited, but I can’t see any reason for not giving it a go.

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HRO Comments:

Details of the announcement by the French racing authority:

*From March, a 2kg weight allowance for female jockeys will come into effect. The allowance will cover nearly all races below Class 1 estimated to total close to ninety per cent of the French racing programme. All Listed and Group races will be exempt from these conditions. The 2kg will come on top of any allowances already claimed by woman apprentices with the overall allowance limit set at 4.5kg. Currently there are around 100 professional women jockeys in France, roughly one sixth of current licence holders.

*Several riders, male and female, have come out against the new allowance ruling while others are on record as saying they are happy for it to be introduced. Some have called it offensive, patronising and unfair. Others have suggested it should be considered in more countries ... but the fact is it will get under way in France in March where the aim of encouraging more light weight rides for females will doubtless be closely monitored both in terms of the volume of rides gained and any change in the pattern of results.