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JUMPING INFORMER
AUSTRALIAN JUMPING RACING ASSOCIATION
Issue 1 - February 2003
THE JUMPING REVIEW
After carefully monitoring the Independent Report and after careful consideration and consultation with trainers and jockeys and the Committee, the Association recommended the following: -
The matters that particularly need to be addressed:-
PRIZEMONEY, and
PROVISION OF TRAINING/SCHOOLING FACILITIES.
Having analysed the Report the Association wishes to make the following recommendations for alterations to it :-
1.Page 9 - The Process for Screening Participants – Recommendation 3
AJRA Recommendation
That a steward be appointed or co-opted who has a background in jumping racing. It is important that consistent results are achieved in trials and that the same Stewards regularly attend the jumping trials. We believe that discussion needs to be held with the Stewards Panel to arrive at consistency in this matter.
2. Page 9 - Jockey Education
AJRA Recommendation
The Association recommends that at least three workshops be held annually for Jumping Jockeys and that they be paid a riding fee for attending those courses. This will ensure the best participation of jockeys.
3.Page 10 – Second Recommendation
AJRA Recommendation
That Coaches/Tutors also attend the races as well as hudle and steeple schools.
4.Trainer Education
AJRA Recommendation
It is recommended that Trainers with a jumping endorsement that do not produce a starter in a jumping race within 2 seasons be required to resubmit. It is believed that some Trainers do not always have a jumper but still have the knowledge from year to year. It should not be made too difficult for Trainers with a long term involvement in the game to have runners in jumping races.
5. Page 13 – Steeplechase fences
AJRA Recommendation
It is recommended that foam rubber takeoffs used in the USA (as in Attachment No 13) not be used. The Association believes the foam takeoff used on the New Zealand hurdles as in Attachment 7 be employed on our steeplechase fences. The similar takeoffs exist on a number of the mobile steeplechase fences in New Zealand and work efficiently. This would be much cheaper and easier to move than the foam rubber takeoffs currently used on the American tracks.
6. Page 21 – Distance of races
AJRA Recommendation
The minimum distance of hurdle races in the country remain at 2800m and the metropolitan tracks 3100m (takes into account a favourable start at Sandown). Due to the configurations of courses in the country, the following distances would be the minimum available for hurdle races.
Avoca – 3500m
Casterton – 3800m
Geelong – 3600m
Kilmore – 3350m
Kyneton – 3800m
Pakenham – 3800m
Stawell – 3600m
Warrnambool – 3350m
Yarra Glen – 3550mThese distances are too far for novice horses to start and we believe that there would be more falls caused by tired horses competing in long distance novice races. The attached schedule shows that the falls in country hurdles are less than those in city hurdle races. The AJRA believes there is no need to increase the minimum distance in the provincial hurdles, as this is not an area that is creating a problem in jumping races.
The Association believes that it is not possible to set hurdles on the outside of the track due to the large number of courses in the provincial district which do not have an outside running rail.
After consultation with the Jumping Jockeys, they believe that the hurdles should be set out from the inside running rail with a wing allowing the horses to race a few metres away from the inside rail. This gives a greater safety area for fallen horses and riders.
7. Page 22 – Spurs
AJRA Recommendation
The Association recommends that spurs be retained for use in jumping races. The jockeys strongly believe that the use of spurs, particularly to ride horses out in races, decreases the use of the whip
Spurs can also provide a jockey the opportunity to pick a horse up better at a fence. This reduces the chance of falling, and potential deaths.
There has been no evidence of horses marked in recent years.
Spurs are also used in equestrian events.
Use of Boots
AJRA Recommendation.
The Association supports this recommendation but requests that boots with Velcro bindings be permitted.
8. Page 24 – Prizemoney
AJRA Recommendation
The Association believes that the recommendation is inadequate. We need strong investment in prizemoney to improve the quality of jumping racing and not just to maintain our current position. It is vital that the big name trainers support jumping. The Association strongly recommends that Racing Victoria adopt our levels for prizemoney for feature races along the same lines as those for the Group and Listed races on the flat.
9. Page 27 – Cost of Schooling
AJRA Recommendation
It is recommended that the cost of schooling at the Cranbourne training complex be reduced to no more than grass galloping fees.
Jumping Riders Earnings
AJRA Recommendation
That jumping riders have not ridden 15 winners within three years be permitted to ride at Point to Point meetings.
10. Page 28- Marketing and Promition of Jumping Racing.
AJRA Recommendation
The Association has the longest experience with the promotion and marketing of jumping racing and it is recommended that the AJRA be included in the meetings with the RVL’s Racing Department. The Association has a history of creating events, has the greatest knowledge of the flow of horses and the likely success of future series.
In addition to the recommendations, mention is made of a Champion Jumper Award. The AJRA supports this, and believes that it should be widened to include jockeys and trainers and to run nationally.
The suggested points to be:-
Group 1 races
Group 2 & 3 races
Melb. Metropolitan Races
Other races.
11. Page 36 - Programming
AJRA RecommendationIt is recommended that the metropolitan season be limited to the period March to September. Over many years, September has been a month where up to five jumping races have been provided. By racing in September it gives horses a chance to break from the Grand National program and be back to contest races later in the year.
There are a number of opportunities to place races in September without being on the major race days, which would not adversely impact on the flat racing calendar. By including September in the calendar it enables horses to race more often.
If the program is limited to an August finish, more races need to be crammed into a shorter period. Horses are not machines and cannot be expected to race week to week to fill the races.
The AJRA feels that it will be difficult to attract new jockeys into jumping of the season is effectively run over 51/2 months in the city (mid March/August). This will create major problems for the future.
The Association totally opposes any revamp of the set weight races already programmed. There are only seven set weight races in Victoria.
Galleywood Hurdle
Lachal Hurdle
Cup Hurdle
Trevor Clarke Steeple
St Steven Steeple
Hiskens Steeple
Crisp Steeple
These races enable our highest quality horses to continue to races. Horses of the calibre of St Steven and Leading Bounty have been able to race on for years and not be forced to race overseas. They are attractions for the race patrons and it would not be in jumps racing’s interests to revert back to the handicap racing we had before these races were brought in.
PICNIC JOCKEYS
The Association has applied to Racing Victoria permission for jumping riders to ride at picnic venues this season. The approach included suggestion that the jumping riders carry a three kilo penalty and making the races like the old Corinthians run up until about 10 years go. The Association feels that the more rides that jumping riders have improves their horsemanship qualities and as a limited number of jumping races are programmed and the more races the jockeys participate in the greater their skill level.
ABATTOIR’S TREBLE GOES INTO HISTORY
After being part of the Flemington steeplechase track for nearly 130 years, the VRC will not be using the Abattoir’s treble any longer for steeplechase events. The area where the fences are located is being excavated for a horse and car tunnel. In future, steeplechase events will be run on the course proper entirely. Originally, the Abattoir’s had two fences, one, a stonewall and one, post and rail until the treble was put in, then brush fences were introduced in 1935. The Abattoir’s treble was a feature of steeplechasing at Flemington.
MORNINGTON 2003
The Mornington Racing Club has decided to run next year’s Great Southern Steeplechase with a stake of not less than $60,000. The race is ideally scheduled in the calendar for the last weekend in May. In years gone by, the Great Southern has been an excellent guide to the Grand National Steeplechase and the strong support given by Mornington for steeplechasing is sure to attract an excellent field for their feature event.
1862 BENDIGO HURDLE
The feature Bendigo meeting of December 1862 was run on a very hard track. Complaints came from the spectators who sat in the grand stand. The seats were so loosely erected that many came to grief viewing the most interesting part of the races. The most controversial race was the hurdle race over 2 miles (a distance of about 3400m). A horse named Ballarat drifted from 4/6 to 2/1in the three horse field. Harkaway borked at the first hurdle but joined back in then ran Ballarat to a nose at the end of the race. Ballarat weighed in 11/2 pounds light and was disqualified. The stewards were of the opinion that foul play had taken place and sentenced jockey, Martin, to a light disqualification from Bendigo and to have and the horse to be barred for 3 years from racing at Bendigo.
ADELAIDE HUNT CLUB CUP
For nearly a century the Adelaide Hunt Club raced at Morphettville, then at Victoria Park in their Annual Fixture. The Hunt Club Cup going into recess in 1975. In the 1880’s the Fixture consisted of five jumping races and a flat race.
The Program was as follows:-
30 pounds – Maiden Hunter’s Steeplechase - 2 miles
50 pounds – Member’s Hurdle – 3 miles
100 points – Adelaide hunt Club Cup – 4 miles
60 poinds – Flat Race – 11/2 miles
50 pounds – Drag Cup (Hunt Steeplechase) – 3 miles
100 pounds – Grand National Hunt Steeplechase – 3 miles
Prior to the race meeting the SA Parliament had passed legislation outlawing betting. But despite not being able to call the odds, bookmakers still did some wagering ‘on the quiet’. The threat to the investors in the tote that they would be prosecutors did not affect the takings, as the Police Commissioner ruled he would not proceed in the matter and his ruling posted prominently on the tote that held 5,376 pounds on the day.
PROGRAMMED SETTLED
“Following protracted negotiations, the AJRA and Racing Victoria announced on Friday that an “in principal” agreement had been reached for jumps programming, as follows:-
The season will begin six weeks prior to the Oakbank Easter
meeting;
Metropolitan races will continue until 30th September;
Provincial races will be run until the Sunday after the Cox Plate, where a
new high profile jumping meeting will be created (at Yarra Glen);
The stake money for this year’s races will be not less than last year’s;
Race numbers will be not less than 125, the same number of races run from
March to October 2002; Racing Victoria Limited’s Racing Department will
support an interim 10% riding fee increase for jumping jockeys, to compensate
for the slightly smaller number of races in 2003.”
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NAKAYAMA GRAND JUMP
Tuesday 15 April to Tuesday 22 April 2003
See St Steven attempt to win the world’s richest steeplechase AGAIN.
$2,700 twin share
$3,100 single
Price includes-
Qantas Airfare
Australia/Japan departure taxes
5 mintes at Crowne Plaza Hotel
Buffet Breakfast daily
Return airport transfers
Afternoon bus tour of Tokyo
Reserved seats at the Nakayama Grand Jump
Minimum 15 bookings for tour to proceed.
Full itinerary available from the AJRA office:
Telephone: 03 9376 3924
Email: jumps @iprimus.com.au
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JOIN AS MANY SUPPORTERS AS YOU CAN
THE AJRA NEEDS STRENGTH THROUGH NUMBERS
WARRNAMBOOL TOZER ROAD DOUBLE
The Association had suggested to Warrnambool that the Tozer Road double be altered to growing fences.
The Tozer Road fences have been the scene of the most accidents over the years, and it is thought that making these fences easier will lead to less fallers at Warrnambool.
Casterton, Mornington and Deloraine already have live fences, and the jockeys believe that these fences are the safest of all.
ENGLISH JOCKEY CLUB POWERLESS OVER ‘YOU GO
FIRST’
The Jockey Club insisted recently there is no action within its powers to prevent a recurrence of the farcial 'you go first' start that blighted Cheltenham's four runner Reikeel Hurdle last month.
With every jockey anxious for a lead, horses stood still at the start for 15 seconds after the official 'off' before breaking into a walk.
Riders attempted to do the best for their mounts, but their tactics do not come within the rules of racing.
A JC official said " The Jockey Club is in a position similar to other sports where tactics can interfere with the spectacle of a game but the referee is in no position to do anything about it.
Mike Cattermole, the racecourse commentator at Cheltenham, said the farcial start was simply part of race riding. "You don't reveal your hand or tactics to the opposition in any other sport, so why shouldn't you do it in racing?" said Cattermole.