‘It is at a standstill’: Jockey safety vest review going nowhere

The Australian Jockeys’ Association is concerned there is little or no movement on the important review into jockey safety vests which was initially prompted by a series of Racenet articles.

(From left to right) Jockeys Jasper Franklin, Tyler Schiller and Dylan Gibbons in their vests.

“It is at a standstill.”

The peak body representing Australian jockeys is concerned that an important review into safety vests is going nowhere and has become mired in red tape.

Racenet ran a series of stories in 2023, quoting champion jockeys including Shane Dye, Darren Beadman and Damien Oliver who were highly critical of current vests being used by jockeys and questioning their effectiveness.

That sparked Racing Australia to launch a review, undertaken by Dr Andrew Mcintosh, but the results of that review have remained confidential.

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Fast forward to 2025 and the Racing Australia Jockey and Industry Participants Committee, which is meant to be continuing to review the vest issue, has not met since May last year.

“It is at a standstill,” Australian Jockeys’ Association Occupational Health and Safety officer Kevin Ring, who is on the committee, said.

“We are supposed to meet regularly, at least every quarter, but we haven’t met since May last year.

“People have left key roles, so they have to keep having to get the committee ratified again.

“It was the Jockeys’ Association that wanted the vest review but it is Racing Australia who call everyone together as to when to meet.

“There are still concerns among the jockeys about the vests, so we want this looked into.”

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RA lists the Jockey & Industry Participants Committee as being “responsible to the (RA) Board for oversight of jockey industry participants welfare matters relevant to the Australian thoroughbred racing industry.”

The intense discussion and drive for change came on the back of a string of jockey falls in early 2023, which included the tragic death of Dean Holland.

A spirited charge was led by former champion hoop Dye who was steadfast in his position that the currently mandated riding vest in Australia in fact increased, not reduced, the capacity for serious back, head and neck injuries in a fall.

Damien Oliver is among many racing identities who support a review into Australian riding vests. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

There has been a push to allow Australian jockeys to wear the much-praised Japanese Descente riding vest but there has been little movement on that front at official level.

That is despite the Hong Kong Jockey Club moving to green light their jockeys’ using the Descente Vest.

“I know a few of the jockeys that have ridden in Japan, myself, Craig Williams and probably Hugh Bowman, say they have got the best vest,” Damien Oliver has previously told Racenet.

“But the Japanese vest wouldn’t pass the Australian standard, which is ridiculous because it’s the best vest going around.”

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Ring said, regardless of the push for the Japanese vest, the safety vest issue needed action.

“It is not just a matter of the Japanese vest, it’s a matter of whether the standards need changing, whether we get the Japanese vests or not,” he said.

“As a result of a review, we might get better vests or some current vests might be discarded.

“There is a section on the Racing Australia website in the Australian Rules Of Racing that says which vests the jockeys are allowed to use.

“There is one listed on there which doesn’t even get made anymore – I used it when I rode back in the 1990s.

“I’ve asked for the vest standard to be reviewed and we really need some action.”

Originally published as ‘It is at a standstill’: Jockey safety vest review going nowhere