Jockey's Union

easy Wrote:

---

> mr hawaii
>
> if i was an agent again and working for a bottom
> rung rider (this nearly happened but the person
> never got back to me) I was going to propose that
> she PAY 40% of her basic riding fee to the owners
> that gave her rides. currently she rides circa 3
> rides per meeting and struggling, i was going to
> attempt to get her a FULL book of rides by
> "buying" rides. I think some owners would actually
> like a R350 rebate on their runner. Her earnings
> per meet would increase, her raceriding practice
> would increase, her confidence would
> increase....never heard from her again.
>
> Any other struggling jocks out there head my
> advice, if you reading this and only getting 3
> rides per meeting you better off "buying" another
> 6/7 rides and you will still finnish ahead

I like your approach Easy - I'd like to suggest something else that the RA should investigate - Setting up an accredited and well run Assistant Trainer's(stable Management Diploma or the likes) course at the Academy - Jocks that don't make the grade AND any other persons with a desire to work in the industry can attend the course at a fee(perhaps the Jocks can do the course in less time due to their previous Racing experience). Needs to be at least two - three year course - The struggling jocks then have the ability to ride work etc and be an asset to a stable - Also I do think that WAY too many appy's are accepted at the academy and that we should look at raising the entry level to 21. Also the rules should be enforced harshly and if a Jock is battling to shed his/her claim then the best thing is to suggest becoming an assistant trainer rather than trying to get them to qualify knowing they won't ever cut it as a race rider. Rather end the pain ealier than produce riders that struggle with weight or ability -

personally i dont think wieght comes into it, fortune/faydherbe/van wyk were/are all excellent jocks and all carry condition. are there too many jocks? possibly, are too many of them clueless in marketing and initiative? for sure.

A jockey needs an agent, that agent should be able to fully control that jockey as far as rides / work riding / attitude is concerned. I know not all jocks are the same and have the same ability BUT perception is a powerful emotion. I spoke to baby elvis, i also spoke to corne and (4 other trainers) for about 1 hour prior to speaking baby elvis. In my opinion there were 2 issues why i chose to not be involved and assist baby elvis,
1: when interviewing her i was told that travelling abroad was not an option as there was a townhouse and cars to pay. The context of travelling abroad was the perception of baby elvis from the trainers was well balanced but weak....I DONT accept this so to combat this i put in a call to friend in kentucky and asked if it were possible to send a jock over for 2 months to "ride work to TIME". I felt that a jockey that is perceived weak can easily put that bollocks to bed by riding races WELL TIMED. If i were baby elvis i would have forgotten the bills for a month or 2 and gone to the states to learn to ride with a clock in her head. She seemed reluctant to travel.
2: I explained to her that i lived abroad and that if i did this it would be to achieve personal bragging rights as it is NOT financially viable to be an agent paying for calls in pounds and maybe earning R2000 per month, i was willing to do this though because there are 4 or 5 trainers that i have a relationship with from my former days as an agent and FOR SURE they would have used her on some of the scubbers until she went state side and returned to SA a better jockey, then the HARD work would start.

I left her my number and never got a text or call back...... I am not knocking the kid at all, i TRUELY believe that if a jockey rides in 8 races a day every day they will become a better jockey even if they riding soupmeat. INFACT this was proved many years ago when Tony was doind Charlie Van Boomas rides and PUT HIM ON EVERY SINGLE thing for 8 months, i am sure those 8 months were tough but charlie IMPROVED , Wiid started using him, Erasmus started using him and even Charles laird then gave him a ride or 3. If i am not mistaken Charlie had the best season (by winners) ever but sadly he then got injured and did not fully reap the rewards of his hard work.

My point with baby elvis and any other struggling jockey is you gonna have to do the time BIG TIME , the academy only teaches you up to a certain point, then you need to go 40 staeps back to eventually level out and make progress in your career.

I think baby elvis has potential, she needs an agent to manimulate her status and get her rides in ANY way possible, even if she has to BUY THEM. She needs to have a couple of seasons where she rides over 800 horses per season. She needs to go to the states for a bit of timing training. If she does this for the next 4 years after that she will i guarentee you have a secure stable job and be in the top 30 riders in the country..........


I will also state that if she follows my advice and struggles for a while a stable like Gary alexander would very easily take her on as a stable jockey. then the world would be her oyster.

Can a group of provisional taxpayers, who are self employed, form a Union ? What are they going to achieve ? Their once strong Association is currently in tatters with a provincial rift. Some follow Eric Fordred in Cape Town and some follow Tex Lerena up here. Up here, there is further division. So, who would join this Union and who would remain Autonomous ? And the end result of any and all Unions is a strike. Who will strike and who will not ?

Before we even blink an eye at the apparent plight of the unsuccessful jocks, we should focus ALL of our energy on the wellbeing of Owners and Punters. Let them, the few, form their Union. We, then, put some workriders on standby.....

The investment of a jockey into Racing is found in a kitbag. The vast majority think that riding work is a chore and that they are doing a favour. Most are "tired" after working 2 or 3 horses in a morning, that's when they actually do come out, once a week. They think that getting rides is their right. And when they do ride in a race, they are paid a riding fee as soon as they weigh out, BEFORE they go and make a hash of the ride. These modern day jocks forget that when you declare them on a ride, you are actually giving them R750. Again, what do Owners & Trainers put into Racing ? What would we all do without the turnover created by Punters ?

And maybe its time for Owners to charge Jockeys for the ride. Let them start feeling what it costs to stay in racing and how much it costs, just to find a horse with ability. Think its a good ride? Think it can Win ? Want the ride ? WELL, PUT IN YOUR BID !

As Rob Faux says...... maybe we will race a hell of a lot in the rain then.

LET THE OWNERS UNION BEGIN !!!!!