Jockeys’ health comes first as minimum flat weights increased
The HRI Board decided to implement the new plan in an effort to improve the long-term health of jockeys, particularly apprentices, as recommended in a report by its Programmes Committee.
The details of the new plan, which will come into effect next Sunday when the 2006 Irish flat season commences at the Curragh, are lengthy and cover virtually every type of flat race run in this country.
Most significantly, the minimum weight in handicaps will be raised by 4lb, from 8-0 to 8-4, while the minimum weight applying in ‘weight-for-age’ races on the flat will rise substantially, from 8-0 to 8-7.
In the study carried out by the Programme Committee, it was noted that the number of rides below 8-4 in 2003, 1,365 (12.3% of all rides) had fallen to 597 (5.3%) in 2005.
In open maidens, the minimum weights will rise as follows : a 1lb rise (to 8-12) for two-year-old maidens; 3lb (to 9-0) for maidens involving three-year-olds; and, for races confined to four-year-olds and up, a significant 5lb rise (to 9-2) will apply. For two-year-old median auction races, the minimum will rise by 2lb, to 8-7.
While the top weight in all Black Type and Conditions races will be 10-0, the standard minimum weight in Black Type races will be 8-12, with just a few exceptions.
Top weights in handicaps will largely be left unchanged. But on days when there are flat races on clashing cards, the top weight in all-aged handicaps may be increased to 10-4.
In other measures, HRI has amended the balloting sequence in flat handicaps to help better quality three-year-olds get a run in all-aged races, by using an elimination process based on ratings rather than weights.
A new split-level lower entry fee will apply to lower-rated horses in the most valuable flat handicaps (0 -100 or open handicaps) by cutting their initial entry fee on half.
And, in Flat and National Hunt handicaps, the weights will be raised to the maximum weight which it stipulates in the race conditions.
