Source: The Melbourne Herald Sun [Adrian Dunn]

AUSTRALIA'S jockeys today launch a campaign for a greater slice of prizemoney to protect their ranks for the benefit of the racing industry.

Under the Australian Jockeys' Association proposal, the additional 1 per cent of prizemoney would be used to help the country's dwindling number of jockeys, currently 815 and declining.

Jockeys receive 5 per cent of prizemoney, a figure they want lifted to 6 per cent. Trainers receive 10 per cent.

"Racing For Our Lives - a plan to protect Australian jockeys" has the support of former prime minister Bob Hawke as well as some of the country's leading sports and industry leaders.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, former ACTU secretary Bill Kelty, Netball Australia chief executive Kate Palmer, AJA chairman Ross Inglis and Herald and Weekly Times managing director Peter Blunden are on the AJA advisory panel.

"Australian jockeys are among the lowest paid in the world. They ride because they love the sport but they deserve basic protections," AJA chief executive Paul Innes said.

Innes said the AJA would ask the Australian Racing Board to drive the proposal to ensure it gained national endorsement.

"Australian jockeys are taking this issue very seriously. It would be a shame to see it disrupt something like the spring carnival," he said.

"Horse racing is a dangerous industry; 89 per cent of jockeys have suffered at least one fall during their career that required medical attention, however most jockeys are not highly paid.

"If jockeys are not provided basic protections, more of them will leave the sport, putting the ongoing viability of the industry at risk. Behind the glamour of the racing industry there is a side the general public don't see.

"Our jockeys put their lives on the line each time they race. They shouldn't also be expected to risk financial ruin each time they race."

Innes said there was a misconception that jockeys were well paid.

An AJA survey revealed 50 per cent grossed no more than $50,000 a year and that's before paying for their equipment, transport costs, public liability and other insurance, as well as GST and income tax.

Innes added that the survey highlighted that many jockeys experienced periods of financial hardship.

"It's no wonder jockeys are packing up their saddles and looking for better opportunities elsewhere. Jockey numbers are declining sharply, a trend that has already seen clubs in some locations struggle to find enough jockeys for race meetings to proceed," Innes said.

"Our industry has many stakeholders. In a decade of campaigning for a fair go for jockeys, I've witnessed a lot of buck-passing and not a lot of responsibility.

"Now we are asking the Australian Racing Board, the national body which brings together all the state racing authorities, to take the lead on these concerns and to act in order to protect jockeys, and the future health of the racing industry."

Public liability insurance for jockeys is an issue for the industry. As it is mandatory under the Rules of Racing, races cannot be run without jockeys holding public liability insurance.

With the current policy expiring on December 31, 2008, a failure to renegotiate a public liability insurance premium acceptable to jockeys would mean a disruption to racing come January 1, 2009.

Under the AJA plan, public liability insurance and a national personal accident scheme for jockeys would be industry-funded through the 1 per cent share of prizemoney the AJA is seeking.

Copyright News Limited – used with permission