Bunbury Racing Rally Behind NJT
Bunbury Racing Rally Behind NJT
The local community is holding their 2nd annual National Jockeys Trust Raceday at Bunbury on Thursday 21 April, with 100% of funds raised going to the National Jockeys Trust. All thanks to Bunbury horse trainer Rob Witten, and passionate local businessman Mike Fagan.
The local Bunbury businesses and racing community have thrown their support being the day with WA Racehorse Owners Association, Parnham Racing Stables, Touchstone Farm, Thoroughbred Breeders WA, Statewide Oils and Bunbury Holden all sponsoring a race with the proceeds being donated to the Jockeys Trust.
Bunbury raceday patrons and the local community are invited to the Big Top following the last race at 5.15pm, to mingle with leading riders and the racing fraternity. There will be a sausage sizzle, cash bar, raffle, merchandise and auction items all to support the cause, in a fun and relaxed environment. The meeting is a 7-race card commencing at 1.53pm.
Alex Doble CEO of Bunbury Turf Club said “The Club is very proud to be hosting the NJT Raceday at Bunbury, as we recognise what an important cause the Jockeys Trust is to the racing industry”.
All topweight horses on the day will don the National Jockeys Trust racing colours, whilst the National Jockeys Trust Cup carries a perpetual trophy for the winning connections.
Emma Stent, injured 21-year-old apprentice jockey, will volunteer at Bunbury on Thursday, with Craig Staples President of the WA Jockeys Association. A winner of 86 races, Emma has been sidelined for 6-months following a track work accident, she is recovering from a shattered ankle and her progress is unknown until she returns to the surgeon in 2-months. “The danger and injuries come with the job, so you just have to deal with it,” –Emma said.
Jockey Kate Witten’s ACL injury in February 2014, a result of a track fall at Bunbury, was the driving force behind the fundraising race day.
“My daughter was injured and spent 11-months on the sidelines which opened my eyes to the other side of racing and the need for people to put their hand up to assist and support this good cause” – Rob Witten, local horse trainer/raceday organiser.
“We have been looking for an avenue to raise money for the Jockeys Trust and creation of the NJT Raceday at Bunbury was the perfect event locally to raise funds for those jockeys who sadly end up in necessitous circumstances.” – said Mike Fagan of Bunbury Holden.
NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST (NJT)
The National Jockeys’ Trust was established by the Australian Jockeys Association 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.
The National Jockeys Trust has provided assistance to over 265 jockeys and the families of jockeys who have been killed, that assistance has now exceeded $2.7 million
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
The tragic deaths of jockeys Caitlin Forrest, Carly-Mae Pye, Simone Montgomerie and Desiree Gill in recent years have been a stark reminder of the dangers of race riding
The occupation of 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.