Riding UK

1.       Please describe how the jockeys are paid in your country.  If appropriate, please provide the monetary amount for compensation or the percentage for riding fees, as well as the percentage of the purse distribution.  Of these fees, please advise how much, if any, each rider contributes to benefits and/or the jockey association.

All riders receive a riding fee, no matter where they are placed.  For flat racing this has just been increased following lengthy negotiations to flat £162.79 and for jump racing £221.28. (Non-runner fees are paid from 1pm at 48-hour declaration stage. All members receive a text message immediately following a ride being declared a non-runner. Flat fee is £81.40 NH fee £110.64.)

In 2023, the PJA negotiated additional payments and appearance fees for jockeys for the trial of Sunday Evening fixtures in 2024. Jockeys with one ride at the fixture receive two extra riding fees as of 21/1/24 (£315.80) and an appearance fee of £100. Jockeys with two rides at the fixture receive one extra riding fee (£157.90) and an appearance fee of £100. Jockeys with three or more rides receive an appearance fee of £100. These extra fees and appearance fees are free from deductions and are paid in full to the jockeys.

From the standard riding fee, members of the PJA pay 3% of the riding fee in subscriptions.  Additionally, NH Jockeys pay 0.65% of the riding fee as a contribution to the Jockeys Injury Management Team, flat pay 0.5% which provides a physiotherapist at all meetings.

Regarding prize money it varies between codes and race types. Following a prize money redistribution in 2021 other Horsemen agreed on changes to the model, with winning percentage reducing and place increasing. In 2024, jockeys prize money distribution will alter to line up with other stakeholders. The new distribution will be as follows, from the total prize money. Pattern races are excluded at present from this format.

Flat – 5.77% of total pot – 1st – 3.08%, 2nd – 1.54%, 3rd – 0.77%, 4th – 0.38%

Jump – 7.52% of total pot – 1st – 4.01%, 2nd – 2.01%, 3rd – 1.0%, 4th – 0.50%

2.       Please advise if your country provides socialized medicine.    If not, please describe the health care that is provided to riders and who contributes to the cost of such expense.

Britain has social medicine.  In addition, we did have a scheme with BUPA who will provide Private Medical Insurance to jockeys, at a 27% discount.  Around 1/3 of our members took up this option and paid themselves, although the Injured Jockeys Fund does provide grants to certain grades of jockeys to help contribute towards this insurance.

In 2023, BUPA decided to discontinue the scheme for new members, but would continue for existing members. Before this happened, we encouraged our apprentice and conditional jockeys to take out a membership, which was fully compensated by the IJF.

3.       Please advise if jockeys are covered under a workers’ compensation program or something similar in the event of an accident in your country.  If not, who is responsible for the cost of care for the injured jockey?

Jockeys are covered by the Professional Riders Insurance Scheme.  This is funded by racehorse owners as a 13% surcharge on the riding fee (e.g. they pay and additional fee of £20.53 per flat ride and £27.90 per jump ride).  Jockeys are also covered when riding work and when riding abroad for short periods of time.

Grade Rides in previous year                         Net Pay Per Day

1            Up To 74                                                        £42.56

2            75-114                                                            £50.00

3            115-154                                                         £57.14

4            155-199                                                         £83.50

5            200-249                                                        £109.00

6            250-349                                                        £149.50

7            350-499                                                         £185.50

8            450-599                                                         £247.50

9            600 +                                                              £285.00

4.       Please advise if foreign riders are covered if they are injured in your country.  If so, who provides the insurance for foreign riders when they come to ride?  How long is the coverage? Does it only cover medical care received in your country or does it also cover care once they have returned home?

Foreign riders will benefit from social medicine and will be able to make use of the Jockeys Injury Management Team but are not covered under any other insurance policy.

5.       Please provide all sources of funding for your jockey association.

3% of the riding fee to be a member of the PJA

Member’s subscriptions

Separate costs of insurances (jockeys pay for their insurances over and above subscription rates)

Commercial funding (sponsorship deals, media rights deals)

Grant funding

6.       Please advise if it is mandatory for jockeys to be a member of your organization. 

No – it is entirely voluntary, though we have 100% membership at present.

7.       Please provide all sources of funding for the jockey benefits that your members receive, including contributions from the jockeys, the owners, your association, the government, and racing bodies, etc.

·       The Jockeys Association Pension Scheme – see (8)

·       The Professional Riders Insurance Scheme – funded by owners via an 11% surcharge on the riding fee.

·       Group Legal Expenses Scheme – funded by members per ride on top of the subscription fees.

·       Group Travel Insurance Scheme – funded by members per ride on top of the subscription fees.

·       Professional and public liability insurance – funded by members per ride on top of the subscription fees. (Group, Legal and Liability total £1.30p per ride)

·       Career ending insurance – Funded by Racehorse Owners Association.

·       Physical Therapists – joint funded by contributions from the British Horseracing Authority, the Injured Jockeys Fund, Professional Jockeys and Racecourses.

·       Nutrition team – funded by an annual grant from BHEST.

·       Jockeys’ employment training services – funded by deductions from Jockeys and the Injured Jockeys Fund.

8.       Please provide a description of all benefits provided to the jockeys who are members of your organization such as disability benefits including temporary or permanent disabilities, death benefits, pension plans, medical insurance, and coverage, etc. 

·       The Jockeys Association Pension Scheme (this is funded by a deduction of 0.6% of total prize money and is distributed to qualifying jockeys over their riding career).

·       The Jockeys Savings Plan (a saving scheme is set up where a nominated amount is deducted from the Jockey’s riding account and put into a savings account).

·       The Professional Riders Insurance Scheme – pays jockeys a weekly benefit for work related accidents whilst a jockey is unable to race ride.

·       Group Legal Expenses Scheme (for disciplinary hearings and motor prosecutions).

·       Group Travel Insurance Scheme.

·       Group Professional and Public Liability insurance.

·       Career Ending Insurance.

·       Negotiation of riding fees and representation with the racing authorities in all matters affecting Jockeys.

·       Qualified physical therapists available at all Jump meetings and Flat meetings.

·       A nutrition team to offer support and information to jockeys.

·       Jockeys Employment Training Services (JETS) offers help and advice on re-training and future employment options.

·       Members discounts on Car insurance, RTV racing channel.

9.       Please provide a description of benefits provided for retired jockeys, if any, in addition to the benefits provided to active riders.

Retired Jockeys can apply for a metal badge which offers them free admission to UK racecourses.

The Jockeys Employment Training Services to offer help and advice to retired Jockeys on re-training and future employment.

10.  Please advise if your association receives any of the fines paid by jockeys as a result of racing infractions or violations.

No – fines go to the BHA.

11.  Please provide all information pertaining to the medical standards and guidelines or requirements during race meets.  For example, the number of doctors, medical personnel, ambulances, relations with medical trauma centers, etc.

·       A minimum of two Racecourse Medical Officers (RMO) must be employed at each race meet and these must be registered with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA)

·       A minimum of one nurse must be employed at each race day and they must be registered with the BHA.

·       For jump racing, at least one qualified first aid attendant is required at each fence or hurdle.

·       A suitably furnished Jockeys’ medical room situated near to the Jockeys’ changing room must be available at each race meeting.

·       A minimum of two ambulances (for flat racing) and three ambulances (for jump racing) must be present.

·       An appropriate vehicle and driver must be provided by the racecourse for use by the RMO’s.

·       All physical and massage therapists must be registered with the BHA.

12.  If required, who is responsible for the cost of liability policies for coverage of the jockeys in the event of an accident? 

All UK racecourses are covered by public liability insurance.  On top of this PJA members have additional coverage under the group public liability insurance scheme which is funded by the Jockeys.

13.  Please advise if your organization has a charity fund to assist riders (both active and retired) with hardships and who provides the funding.

The Injured Jockeys Fund is a separate charity that provides assistance, financial and pastoral, to over a thousand Jockeys who have suffered through injury and are unable to ride.  This is funded largely by commercial activities, fundraising and through donations.  For further information; http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk.

14.  Please provide the standards for the safety vest and for the helmets for the jockeys.   Who is responsible for inspecting the equipment to make sure that it is in compliance with the rules. Is any of the equipment provided by or paid for by the association or others?

• A skull cap is approved if it meets one of the following standards:

Ø  PAS 015: 2011

Ø  SNELL E2001

Ø  SNELL E2016

Ø  VG1 01.040 2014-12

Ø  UTAC/CRITT 04/2015

·       All safety vests must conform to: (BS) EN 13158:2009 or 2018 (Level 2)

·       The British Horseracing Authority regulates these conditions and can make random inspections at the racecourse.

All full Jockeys pay for and provide their own equipment.  Conditional and Apprentice Jockeys will have all necessary equipment provided to them by their trainer to include: skullcap, breeches, googles, body protector and whip.

15.  Is there a minimum and/or maximum age for licensing?  Is schooling or training mandated?

To obtain a Jockey license the applicant must satisfy the BHA that he/she is a competent jockey and capable of riding within the set rules and regulations.  All first-time applicants for a license are required to satisfactorily complete an appropriate training course at one of the Racing schools.

To apply for an apprentice or conditional license the Jockey must be aged over 16 years but under 26 years.  There is no maximum age limit to hold a full license.

16.  Please explain with regards to the kitchens in the jockey quarter or food that is available to riders during the race day.

The PJA provides all UK racecourses with guidelines to suitable catering for Jockeys. 

17.  Please advise the minimum scale of weights for riders in your country.  Additionally, please advise what equipment is included when a jockey weighs out before the race.

The minimum weight in a Flat race is 8 stone 2lb before any allowance for Apprentice Jockeys.  Apprentice only races hold a minimum weight of 8 stone 5lb before additional claims. National Hunt races have a minimum weight of 10 stone 2lb before any allowance from Conditional Jockeys (maximum claim is 10lbs).

The only equipment that is included when a jockey weighs out before a race is the silks, body protector (where there is a 4lb allowance), boots, saddle, and pad.

18.  Please advise if your organization provides assistance and education pertaining health and well-being such nutrition, psychological, job retraining, etc.

The PJA provides a specialist nutrition team that offers advice, support, and information on all dietary queries for Jockeys.

Members have access to a confidential helpline provided by Sporting Chance and funded by the PJA in addition to psychological support via the IJF centers and PJA performance consultant. PJA also provide a single point of contact who is a trained counsellor. Racing Welfare, a registered charity offers help and support with any issues affecting the Jockeys.

Through the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme we offer support and guidance to current and recently retired Jockeys in further education and retraining opportunities as well as finding future employment. JETS also offer education and training at subsidized rates for qualifying Jockeys.

19.  Is jockey advertising allowed in your country?  If so, what are the requirements to allow for jockeys to wear the advertising?  Is it the individual riders who enter the contracts with the sponsors or does your organization handle to negotiations?  How are the proceeds of the contracts distributed or do all the funds go to the individual jockey?

Yes, jockey advertising is allowed in the UK and generally works in the form of company branding on Jockey’s clothing through sponsorship deals.  All sponsorship deals are individually negotiated by the Jockeys, and they retain 100% of the funds received.  The PJA also has a group sponsorship site that is mandatory for members when in use.  Currently blank.

20.  How are the jockey agents and valets paid?  What is the usual percentage that the agents receive?  What is the usual percentage for valets?

Jockey agents and valets are paid out of the individual jockeys riding fees at source on a percentage basis. Valets also charge a win bonus. The agent’s fees are negotiated individually between the Jockey and the agent but as a rule will be 10% of the riding fee. Valet’s fees are as follows for Jump rides:

1st ride – £21.36

2nd ride - £16.08

3rd and above – £11.06

The valet fees for Flat rides are:

1st ride - £19.07

2nd ride - £12.37

3rd ride and above - £11.34