Health warning for jockeys
A study commissioned by the Irish Turf Club and carried out by the National Coaching and Training Centre (NCTC) has identified other health concerns among jockeys, such as low body fat and bone density which indicated osteopenia.
The Turf Club's Senior Steward, Pierce Molony said most of the problems were "directly attributable to the lifestyles and diets of most jockeys".
He told a briefing in Dublin yesterday that Dr Giles Warrington, of the NCTC, was currently in the process of completing a further phase of the study, analysing the diets of Irish jockeys.
The full results will be presented at a joint seminar hosted by both the Turf Club and the UK's Jockey Club in London next month.
Despite the result of the findings, Mr Molony revealed the Turf Club was reluctant to increase weights until they got certain commitments from the jockeys.
"While we fully recognise that the human race is getting bigger and jockeys are finding it increasingly difficult to ride at current weights, the stewards of the Turf Club are reluctant to increase weights until we get some commitment from riders that they will not ride when they are dehydrated."
He added: "This may ultimately mean the introduction of random dehydration testing."
Mr Molony said there was little point in raising weights unless riders accepted they could not continue to ride at weights detrimental to their health, and possibly that of others.
"We are looking into the possibility of setting up an education programme at RACE (the apprentice jockey school), which riders will be asked to attend annually. Attendance at this may be one of the pre-conditions before a licence is issued."
He said jockeys must also take responsibility in this area, pointing out most of the support for change had so far come from future jockeys the apprentices and not currently licensed jockeys.
He said €234,000 had been spent on a helmet research study at UCD's mechanical engineering department, but he was disappointed by the jockeys' refusal to pay anything towards this vital work. "While the jockeys as a group fully support the study, they have refused to provide any funding towards the cost of the work. We see their attitude in stark contrast to that of the Qualified Riders Association who, on hearing of the research, immediately accepted a levy of €1 per ride. In this regard we find the jockeys' attitude baffling to say the least," he said.
And without naming names, he said he was "increasingly alarmed" by the behaviour of riders on the track.
In the wake of several high-profile incidents recently, in which the likes of Johnny Murtagh and Pat Smullen were handed heavy fines and lengthy bans for lashing out at other riders, Mr Molony said their behaviour was creating a negative image for the sport.
"Any rider contemplating such actions could expect the heaviest of penalties," he said.
Elsewhere in his annual press briefing, Mr Molony evealed no agreement had yet been reached between the Turf Club and the betting exchanges on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
The memorandum was necessary, he said, because Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) had not been able to conclude a meaningful agreement with the exchanges for payment of data fees.
He added that Betfair's refusal to pay a reasonable fee to HRI for the use of Irish racing data meant the amount of funding available to HRI to finance the industry was reduced.
The Turf Club has announced the establishment of a fund for Westmeath 21-year-old Shaun McManus, who suffered serious spinal injuries in a point-to-point meeting this year.
Proceeds from a special point-to- point fixture on November 20 at Tattersall Farm, Ratoath, Co Meath, will go to the rider, who is recovering at the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire.
Anyone who wishes to contribute can do so at any Bank of Ireland branch: A/C 15593793, sort code 90-12-63.
