FROM THE SHERIFF'S DESK: DOING THE RIGHT THING. LOOKING OUT FOR THE APPRENTICE JOCKEYS

By John Schreck | Wednesday, June 14, 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. Schreck’s personal blog, ‘From the Sheriff’s Desk', appears exclusively on HRO.

Racing Victoria’s announcement with regard to health, well-being and working conditions as applied to apprentice jockeys is to be welcomed.

Obviously there has been a massive change in the way apprentices are handled these days compared to what used to be called the good old days. In the past, when youngsters took out an apprenticeship, they used to work hard over long hours in the stable ... and on race days ... and they would have a night off every couple of weeks to go to the movies.

Clearly that wheel has turned for the better in that regard.

With the changing times there has been an increase in the number of race-meetings, and therefore possible riding opportunities, and today it has become essential that the workload of apprentices be monitored and restricted where necessary to not only ensure their continued well-being but also to create working conditions which hopefully will attract more young people to the sport ... both male and female.

Amongst other things Racing Victoria has now raised the minimum age for riding in races from fifteen to sixteen. That comes on the back of the decision taken a year ago to reduce the number of consecutive days an apprentice could ride in races from nine days to six days and it is obviously of utmost importance that such reviews are taken on a regular basis.

It is also important that those directly involved in helping the apprentice with his riding schedule fully understand what their jockey is taking on so Racing Victoria have now mandated that any jockey managers who manage or wish to manage an apprentice will have to undertake a Racing Victoria accredited training course on fatigue and related issues.

As with any key component part, the healthy life of all apprentices is important to the sport and it is good to know that Racing Victoria is proactive in this regard.

Of course such regulation can only be applied to apprentices and not to senior jockeys.

Those who are licensed to ride as senior jockeys are contractors. They ride for hire ... and it is incumbent on them to manage their working life as best they can with the challenges they face ... such as travel and fatigue ... and, the great majority of times, I think they do.

The bottom line is that there has always been pressure facing jockeys and I don’t see that changing in the short term.

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In Sydney the Australian Turf Club has confirmed it will extend trackwork times on a trial basis.

From July 1 the extended trackwork finishing times will be 9am at Rosehill and Randwick, and 9.30am at Warwick Farm.

I can fully understand allowing a later finishing option but I can also appreciate why, according to the ATC, there was ‘no widespread support for an earlier starting time.’

The winningest trainer of all time was always first at the track to get the best use of the grass and I think it would be very difficult to tell a trainer don’t come to the track at 5am, come at 6.30am.

Many of them would not like that. They like to get their work done to get to the races or whatever else they have to do.

So it is good there is no change to the early starting time and it probably good that they have pushed the closing time back a bit allowing the trackwork times to be stretched out for those who do want to take up the later option.

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To complete my brief state to state roundup, it was good to see the Brisbane Carnival end on a high note with the Stradbroke meeting at Doomben on Saturday.

Shifting the latter part of the Brisbane Carnival away from Eagle Farm was obviously a very difficult decision made in controversial circumstances ... but the way things turned out it was clearly the correct decision.

On Saturday the racing was good, the attendance was a very pleasing 14000 plus so, taking it all in all, Queensland’s biggest race-day went off very well.

In this instance, full credit is due to the Brisbane Racing Club for the way they came through the switch of venue overcoming what must have been something of a logistical nightmare.