Jockeys ready to strike over insurance
Australia’s racing industry could come to a halt if funding for an insurance scheme for jockeys is not accepted.
The Australian Jockeys’ Association (AJA) is asking for an additional 1% of the prize money pool – jockeys currently receive 5% – to help self-insure the country’s 860 riders.
This would amount to between $3.5 million and $4 million a year to go towards a public liability insurance and personal accident scheme for jockeys.
More than 300 jockeys have been killed in racetrack falls across Australia in 150 years of organised racing.
AJA CEO Paul Innes says despite the high personal risk, 50% of jockeys gross no more than $50,000 a year before income tax, equipment, transport and insurance costs.
“Jockeys are the only professional athletes in Australia required to buy their own public liability insurance,” he said. “There is also currently no national personal accident insurance scheme for jockeys.”
The AJA’s current public liability policy expires on December 31 and the association says if it fails to renegotiate an acceptable insurance premium jockeys will strike from January 1.
Mr Innes says the AJA’s “modest and sensible” demand could potentially disrupt the spring racing carnival.
The Australian Jockeys’ Association (AJA) is asking for an additional 1% of the prize money pool – jockeys currently receive 5% – to help self-insure the country’s 860 riders.
This would amount to between $3.5 million and $4 million a year to go towards a public liability insurance and personal accident scheme for jockeys.
More than 300 jockeys have been killed in racetrack falls across Australia in 150 years of organised racing.
AJA CEO Paul Innes says despite the high personal risk, 50% of jockeys gross no more than $50,000 a year before income tax, equipment, transport and insurance costs.
“Jockeys are the only professional athletes in Australia required to buy their own public liability insurance,” he said. “There is also currently no national personal accident insurance scheme for jockeys.”
The AJA’s current public liability policy expires on December 31 and the association says if it fails to renegotiate an acceptable insurance premium jockeys will strike from January 1.
Mr Innes says the AJA’s “modest and sensible” demand could potentially disrupt the spring racing carnival.