Stewards introduce new licencing strategy aimed at matching apprentice to meeting

STEWARDS have a new tier of licensing for apprentice jockeys, aimed at having skill levels commensurate with the status of meeting they can ride at.

Racing Queensland’s general manager stewards and integrity operations Wade Birch says a t

STEWARDS have started to roll out a new tier of licensing for apprentice jockeys, aimed at having skill levels commensurate with the status of meetings they can ride at.

Under the current system, a license goes from country to provincial and then to metropolitan status. A total of 24 apprentices have been earmarked to have their license conditions modified.

Racing Queensland’s general manager stewards and integrity operations Wade Birch said the licensing levels aren’t in line with the vast difference in skills required.

“There have been concerns with the level of skills, particularly at Ipswich, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast,” Birch said. “The mode of racing at those venues is extremely different to that of most country tracks.

“If apprentices become exposed to that level of racing when they are not ready for it, it can have long-term consequences on their careers.”

Birch acknowledged there hadn’t been consistency in the training program.

“We readily accept some responsibility for the situation. Our training team is building again and this will provide more consistency for licensees,” he said.

At the moment, Queensland has 20 apprentices eligible to ride at Saturday metropolitan meetings. Three of those riders are likely to have their license downgraded.

The first round of apprentices were told of their license changes at Toowoomba last Monday.