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Jockey Welfare Initiative

West Australian Racing
Jockey Welfare Initiative
Principal Racing Authorities around Australia have entered arrangements with the Australian Jockeys? Association (AJA) and State Jockey Associations by providing 1% of all annual thoroughbred stake money for jockey and apprentice welfare and support.

Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) contributes over $500,000 annually towards this scheme through jockey and apprentice Public Liability, Personal Accident, a Career Benefit Scheme and other welfare programs.

One of the welfare initiatives agreed between RWWA and the Western Australian Jockeys? Association has been to engage the services of Sportsmed Subiaco, a consultant sports doctor service to oversee jockey and apprentice riding injuries and the early benefits of this partnership are being noticed already.

The service is headed up by the Medical Director Dr Gerard Taylor, who has worked in Sports Medicine for 17 years and is the team doctor for the West Coast Eagles.

The partnership is already paying dividends for some of our sport?s athletes.

Ben Kennedy suffered a serious fracture of his wrist in a race fall on 6 October 2010 from Giant?s Island at Belmont Park. Following surgery on the wrist, he was initially not expected to return to race riding until mid to late February, but after receiving a clearance at the end of last week, Ben took 7 trial rides on Monday and returned to race riding on Wednesday 22 December some 6 weeks ahead of schedule.

Duncan Miller has also received the benefit of the partnership. Breaking his collarbone in a fall after the post at Bunbury on 24 November, he underwent surgery to insert a plate under the medical team?s guidance and he returned to race riding 15 December, spending only 3 weeks on the sidelines.

And most recently, Grant Lemos fell at Narrogin last Saturday, and whilst transported to Narrogin Hospital for observation, Dr Taylor was advised of the fall and the hospital that he was being transported to ? enabling him to speak to the doctor on duty, and arranged to see Grant on the following morning, Sunday, at his Clinic at St John of God, Subiaco, where he diagnosed a fracture of P12 vertebra.

Whilst this can be a long term injury, Dr Taylor has arranged to see Grant again in 4 weeks, with expectation that a return as early as 6 weeks may be possible.

The feedback from the apprentices and jockeys has been very positive, giving them full confidence in the advice and support they now receive, but most of all, getting them back to race riding much faster what has occurred in many previous cases.

Comments

  • thefalconthefalcon    20,471 posts
    Thanks for that, Della, I now rest easy.... :wink:
  • ShergarShergar    43 posts
    Not new! In the UK the Injured Jockey's Fund has been running for years. They now have care homes in Lambourn & Teneriffe and support dozens of injured and infirm jockeys. We are so behind the times!

    www.ijf.org.uk
  • said:

    Not new! In the UK the Injured Jockey's Fund has been running for years. They now have care homes in Lambourn & Teneriffe and support dozens of injured and infirm jockeys. We are so behind the times!

    www.ijf.org.uk

    In Ireland one of our app jocks contracted to the yard had a bad fall & died in a race (his wife had their baby the next day).
    All owners gave 20K + each to the family. Respect the work they do !!
  • dungydungy    9,278 posts
    I do respect the work they do but they no all risks that are involved in being a race rider as do miners,ect ect ect thats why they earn well .
  • highwaymanhighwayman    42 posts
    said:

    Not new! In the UK the Injured Jockey's Fund has been running for years. They now have care homes in Lambourn & Teneriffe and support dozens of injured and infirm jockeys. We are so behind the times!

    www.ijf.org.uk

    i thought most jockeys were infirm that was part of the criteria needed to enter an apprenticeship :D
  • RodentRodent    7,446 posts
    said:


    And most recently, Grant Lemos fell at Narrogin last Saturday, and whilst transported to Narrogin Hospital for observation, Dr Taylor was advised of the fall and the hospital that he was being transported to ? enabling him to speak to the doctor on duty, and arranged to see Grant on the following morning, Sunday, at his Clinic at St John of God, Subiaco, where he diagnosed a fracture of P12 vertebra.

    What's a P12? I only studied animals where there were C's, T's and L's. I've never heard of P's. Does it stand for pelvic???
  • Only a guess but maybe Pedicle?
  • RodentRodent    7,446 posts
    I just noticed P is near L on the keyboard...maybe a typo. Probably meant to be an L for lumbar.
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