OFFICIAL PARTNER OF NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST MEDIA RELEASE 28 July 2014 Commemorating 10-­‐Years of support for injured riders on National Jockeys Celebration Day NATIONAL JOCKEYS CELEBRATION DAY (NJCD) 2014 marks the 10-Year Anniversary of National Jockeys Celebration Day and the
National Jockeys’ Trust, and will be celebrated at all Australian race meetings on
Saturday 2 August 2014.1
National Jockeys Celebration Day (NJCD) is held on the first weekend in August
each year and celebrates the achievements of former and current jockeys,
commemorates those who have lost their lives and raises awareness and funds
for the National Jockeys’ Trust (NJT) to help support injured or ill jockeys and their
families.
The official launch of National Jockeys Celebration Day and the National Jockeys’
Trust was at Parliament House, Canberra, on 2 March 2004 in the presence of
the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon John Howard MP with jockeys
representing each Australian State.2
National Jockeys Celebration Day activities around Australia include races named
the National Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap, a Minute Silence and Blessing of
the Track.
Patrons attending the races on NJCD are encouraged to wear a touch of orange.
Orange is the official colour of the NJT with the logo displaying a sign of
remembrance, orange poppies placed at the base of the jockey memorial statue.
The actual statue is located next to the Raceday Office at Caulfield Racecourse in
Victoria.
A commemorative 10-Year Anniversary pin will be available to purchase at all
meetings over NJCD weekend for $10 for the NJT and official merchandise will be
available to purchase at selected race meetings.
Neville Wilson OAM4 accepted the honour of being the National Jockeys
Celebration Day Ambassador for the 10-Year Celebrations, whilst Michelle La
Vars has been named the South Australian NJT Ambassador for 2014.
Moonee Valley Racing Club will be hosting the families of fallen riders Mark
Goring, Adrian Ledger, Gavin Lisk and Adrian Gilbert in the Jockey Bar. In the
National Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap at Moonee Valley each Jockey in the
race will be riding in honour of an injured jockey allocated by saddlecloth number,
and will be wearing an orange armband. NJT jockey colours will be worn by the
top weight in each race on the day.
Metropolitan race meetings hosting National Jockeys Celebration Day in 2014 are
Moonee Valley (VIC); Rosehill Gardens (NSW), Morphettville (SA), Eagle Farm
(QLD), Belmont (WA) and Devonport (TAS).3
Darwin Turf Club will commemorate jockey Simone Montgomerie on the
anniversary of her tragic race fall on Darwin Cup Day last year. In a tribute to
Simone, the Lightning Plate on Cup day, Monday 4 August, will be renamed the
Montgomerie Lightning Plate in Simone’s honour. VIP’s at the Darwin Cup will
wear purple ribbons in memory of Simone. Darwin (NT) will officially recognise
NJCD on 30 August and hold a minute’s silence at this time.
Simone is not the only fallen rider who we will remember on National Jockeys
Celebration Day, in excess of 870 Australian jockeys tragically lost their lives as a
result of their occupation. Fourteen of these riders have lost their lives in the 21st
century being Simone Montgomerie, Desiree Gill, Ashlee Mundy,, Corey Gilby,
Reece Potter, Daniel Baker, Damien Murphy, Adrian Ledger, Gavin Lisk, Nicole
Botica, Adrian Chan, Mark Goring, Jason Oliver and Andrew Gilbert.5
NJCD also provides the opportunity to remember those riders now suffering from
Paraplegia, Quadriplegia or Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) ending their riding career,
and completely changing their lives.6
NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST (NJT) The National Jockeys’ Trust was established by the Australian Jockeys
Association (in collaboration with the Australian Racing Board) in 2004 to provide
support for riders who have encountered life changing, career ending injuries and
who are in need of assistance.7
The principal purpose of the National Jockeys Trust is to provide support for
former and current jockeys, and their families who are in necessitous
circumstances as a result of serious injury, illness or death of a jockey.
Insurance benefits have improved significantly since 2009. But there’s still any
number of riders from years gone by, and even from the present group, who seem
to slip through the cracks when it comes to WorkCover and other insurance
schemes and who end up in truly necessitous circumstances
2014 commemorates the 10-Year Anniversary of the National Jockeys Trust.
During this time we have provided assistance to over 200 jockeys and the families
of jockeys who have been killed, that assistance has now exceeded $2 million
The tragic deaths of jockeys Simone Montgomerie and Desiree Gill last year were
a stark reminder of the dangers of race riding.
The occupation of a Jockey is the second most dangerous in the world. Whilst
North Sea Fishing is considered the most dangerous occupation, being a jockey
is the most dangerous land occupation in the world. It is a requirement for an
ambulance to follow the field in every race. A jockey weighing 50-60kg riding a
550kg thoroughbred at 60km per hour does not allow much margin for error.
Whenever a jockey is killed or permanently disabled a family is left in hardship.
There are 840 jockeys registered in Australia and here are some statistics that
support the need for the NJT:
• In excess of 870 Australian jockeys have been killed in race falls since 1847
• Approximately 200 riders are injured each year on Australian racetracks
• Combined with trackwork, we have nearly 500 falls annually.
• 89% of jockeys will have a fall that requires medical assistance
• 9% have fallen more than 20 times
• Each year 40% of jockeys will have a fall that will prevent them from riding for
an average of 5 weeks.
• Approx 5% of these falls would be termed career-ending injuries.
• Over 50% of Australian jockeys earn less than $60,000 per year (before
expenses)
• It is estimated that in the next 10 years we will see 10-12 jockey deaths and 50
jockeys will suffer career ending injuries including paraplegia, quadriplegia and
severe brain injury.
The NJT’s work is made possible by LUCRF Super partnership of the jockeys
breeches, private donations and fundraising activities thanks to the generous
support of the horse racing community and industry participants including racing
organisations, sponsors, owners, breeders, trainers, punters, racing fans and both
current and former jockeys themselves.
The Australian Jockeys Association, which represents all Australian Jockeys, has
contributed $400,000 to the Trust over the last five years on behalf of all
Australian Jockeys, with jockeys regularly supporting fundraising activities and
awareness campaigns.
END RELEASE.
For further information please contact:
National Jockeys Trust P: 02 9894 9629 E: [email protected] W: www.njt.org.au
Tanya Fullarton M: 0417 193071 or Tony Crisafi M: 0430 211 098
Interview Requests: We can arrange interviews with former and current riders,
representatives of the Australian Jockeys Association and National Jockeys Trust.
Images: We can arrange a photo shoot on request or supply file images as
required.
Fact Sheets: We can provide a fact sheet on NJT Ambassadors Neville Wilson
OAM and Michelle La Vars (injured rider) and on Jockey Occupational Health and
Safety in Australia.
ENDNOTES:
1. NJCD race meetings not held on Saturday 2 August
ACT will hold NJCD on Friday 1 August at Canberra. NT will hold NJCD on 30 August
at Darwin. They will hold Simone Montgomerie Tribute race at Darwin on Monday 4
August.
2. Jockeys involved in 2004 NJCD launch
Jockeys representing each Australian State and Territory during the 2004 official
launch were John Nisbet (ACT); Corey Brown (NSW); Barry Huppatz (NT), Glen
Colless (QLD); Clare Lindop (SA); Jodi Borrett (TAS), Stephen Baster (VIC) and Paul
Harvey (WA).
3. NJCD Race Meetings
Complete listing of National Jockeys Celebration Day race meetings around Australia
on Saturday 2 August include:
• Moonee Valley (Victoria);
• Rosehill Gardens, Kembla Grange, Coonabarabran (NSW);
• Eagle Farm, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Bowen, Corfield Amateur, Goondiwindi,
Mareeba, Middlemount, Nanango, Tambo (QLD);
• Morphettville, Roxby Downs Cup (SA);
• Belmont, Broome (WA);
• Devonport (TAS);
• Canberra (ACT) will celebrate on Friday 1 August;
• Darwin (NT) will celebrate on Saturday 30 August.
4. NJCD Ambassador Role
Neville Wilson OAM is Chairman of the Victorian Jockeys Association
5. Jockeys Deceased.
Fourteen riders have lost their lives in the 21st century:
1. Desiree Gill, Sunshine Coast, QLD 2013
2. Simone Montgomerie, Darwin, NT 2013
3. Ashlee Mundy, Kurow, New Zealand, 2012
4. Corey Gilby, Julia Creek, QLD 2011
5. Reece Potter, Tottenham NSW 2011
6. Daniel Baker, Grafton, NSW 2007
7. Damien Murphy, Wellington, NSW 2007
8. Adrian Ledger, Corowa, NSW 2005
9. Gavin Lisk, Moe, VIC 2005
10. Nicole Botica, Landor, WA 2004
11. Adrian Chan, Carnarvon, WA 2004
12. Mark Goring, Tatura, VIC 2003
13. Jason Oliver, Belmont, WA 2002
14. Andrew Gilbert, Benalla, VIC 2001
6. Injured Riders.
Riders in recent years who have suffering career ending injuries paraplegia,
quadriplegia and acquired brain injury (ABI) include the National Jockeys Trust
Patron Darren Beadman, Anne Marie Wilkinson, Kristy Banks, Michelle La Vars,
Louise Cooper, Kerrin & Rochelle Shortis, Terry McAllister, Ray Silburn, Scott
Leckey, Danny Brereton, Brenton Primmer, Lonagan Milham, Ian Duckling, John
Hulls, Ricky Thurgood, Shaun Organ, Leigh Woodgate, Jamie Evans, David Bates,
Pat Ferris, Hari Singh, Lachlan Fyfe, Paul Goode, Bill Goodwin, Nathan Patchett,
Cheree Buchiw (Gask), Paul Sarlo, Rod Kemp, Richard Caddies, Shaun Posner and
Ricky Farrell.
7. National Jockeys Trust
Grants of financial assistance made by the National Jockeys Trust are strictly
governed by the Trust’s Deed. The National Jockeys Trust is approved as a
Registered Charity and all donations are fully Tax Deductible. The National Jockeys
Trust Board of Trustees are Paul Innes, Greg Sword, Ross Inglis, Dr Phil Truskett
AM, Bob Whyburn, Bernard Allan and Reverend Paul Bayliss.
SOURCES:
1. Australian Jockeys Association
2. National Jockeys Trust
3. Australian Racing Board
4. RIRDC (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation)