29 November 2023 , 17:52
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Flat jockeys reacted with fury on Wednesday when asked if they would end their official holiday to ride at new race meetings.
Jockeys and other racing staff are in the middle of an eight-day break in the Flat calendar introduced to support the wellbeing of the workforce.
During this period no Flat racing was scheduled between Saturday, November 25, and Monday, December 4, when Wolverhampton is due to host the next all-weather programme.
Yet with Saturday’s jumps meetings facing possible disruption from the weather, the BHA examined adding new Flat fixtures in the event of cancellations.
The Professional Jockeys Association canvassed members for feedback, but the idea was not welcomed.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
The message, sent to riders by the PJA and posted on X by jockey Callum Shepherd, asked whether members would be available to ride and would be in support of the move.
Shepherd replied with the comment, “We get a week off a year", which prompted a similar reaction from colleagues Jason Hart and Dougie Costello plus trainers Alice Haynes and George Scott.
As a result of the negative response, the BHA instead scheduled an all-weather ‘Jumpers Bumper’ fixture at Southwell on Sunday, December 3, and left the eight-day Flat break alone.
Shepherd, speaking from Milan, said: "I think the vast majority were of the same opinion. I''m here with Hayley Turner and George Wood and we all thought it was not really a question that needed to be asked.
"We get a week off a year, which in itself is not really sufficient, and to cut into that would have been really poor. In the end we got the right outcome and we have to respect that the BHA have listened and didn't go through with it
A BHA statement said: “Due to the significant cost to everyone involved in the sport of weekend days without sufficient fixtures, the BHA explored the feasibility of staging additional Flat fixtures this weekend.
“However, having considered feedback from across the sport and the practical implications of doing so, it has been determined that these fixtures should not take place during the full Flat code break.
“This is vital to support our participant's welfare and protect the opportunity for them to have their break after a busy season of Flat racing, especially following what has already been a period of adding in a high volume of additional All-Weather fixtures.”