October
OctoberLet jockeys live
Near hysteria broke out over jockeys using the whip on racehorses and many still think that whips should be banned for inflicting cruelty to "dumb animals".
Yet not one word in protest at the demands placed upon Michelle Payne, who had to starve herself to get down to 50kg to ride Allez Wonder in the Caulfield Cup.
It said a great deal about Michelle’s professionalism, but what does it say about our weight scale and respect for the human component of horse racing?
A major Group 1 race with over $2.5 million in prizemoney, yet we still have horses able to carry just 50kg, with the absolute top weight being just 57kg.
A horse that has now won more than $5.5 million will be carrying the same weight in the Melbourne Cup as a maiden running in the bush? How logical is that?
If we are fair dinkum about safety and welfare in the racing industry, don’t just stop at the "dumb" animals and give at least as much consideration to the human animals that are equally essential to the racing industry, the much abused jockeys.
Let’s raise the minimum weight on all races by three kilograms now. Let the jockeys live a life and not have to torture themselves just to be able to compete.
We will all be the better for it, as I’m sure that happy, healthy jockeys will be far more reliable than the ones that are now being asked to go out in a dehydrated and malnourished condition.
The RSPCA is very vocal about horses’ welfare, but, where are the OH&S people and the jockeys’ association?
Torquay (Vic)