WE’VE spoken about my recent move into flat races so of course I was interested to read that Wetherby had been approved to host its first flat racing meeting next April.
Bosses are insisting the fine National Hunt course will continue to focus on the jumps, which is to be applauded.
In some ways I’m sure it’s a great move, especially for the flat lads as Wetherby is a great track and you will see some big meetings there.
Racing is seeing more and more of its decisions being made by racetracks’ owners from a business angle now in general.
My worry would be that if the flat meets go really well after, say, five meetings next year, might they start cutting back on jumps racing?
The other question I suppose would be: are you stepping on York Racecourse’s toes, which is only about 25 miles away?
I was on the road to Perth up in Scotland for two rides last week where I clocked up a 796-mile round trip.
I’m a fairly keen tweeter and during the trip I sent a message politely asking whether there would be a chance that the BHA would do us a fuel allowance for such long trips.
The message got a lively response with a few other people tweeted back, including the racecourse owner Michael Delling.
A question was raised about who would pay for the jockey’s allowance and it was assumed the owners would have to foot the bill.
But I don’t think that’s the case. If you look at French racing, their racetracks give a certain amount towards a jockey’s fuel allowance.
My view is that if you travel, say, 400 miles and then you find out that you’re on a non-runner, well, even getting £50 is better than nothing.
But there’s no allowance in this country. For my trip to Perth, I worked out that if I hadn’t been in the prize money for my two rides then my profit would be £55.
I understand that racing is my own choice; nobody has put a gun to my head and said ‘you’re going to be a jumps jockey’.
But we risk our health as jockeys and I’ve put my neck on the line after a 12-hour trip.
It can be disheartening and a lot of this links back to the idea we’ve touched upon before that the game is not putting in what it should do.
In France and in Ireland there’s less racing but there is a greater will to put more back in, to the benefit not just of the jockeys but also the owners too.
Some of the jump lads have gone away this week on a 10-day break. However, I’m hanging about as I’ve got a few flat races this week, including at Haydock Park, and will look to go away in September.
With my recent good form on flats, who knows, perhaps Wetherby will call me for their opener next April!
