Champion jockey Mick Dittman calls for claims review so industry can put clamp on loss of apprentices

QUEENSLAND riding great Mick Dittman has called on authorities to change the rules so jockeys are not forced out of the industry after they finish their apprenticeship.

QUEENSLAND riding great Mick Dittman has called on authorities to change the rules so jockeys are not forced out of the industry after they finish their apprenticeship.

Dittman, who was made a member of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in only its second year in 2002, believes apprentices should keep their claim until they outride it, rather than losing all claims the moment they end their apprenticeship.

“It’s a total waste,” Dittman said.

“Some of these riders have a family to feed after they come out of their time and they have no option but to leave the game because the opportunities all dry up straight away.

“Why the hell can’t they keep their claim?

“It’s something that needs to be looked at.

“Does it really matter if a jockey is 24, 26 or 28 when they lose their claim?

“When you go into the open ranks, it’s not easy.

“The good rides get taken up very quickly by the top jockeys.’’

Dittman said the world had changed since he was a young rider, when it was virtually unheard of for a jockey to make the grade unless they earned their stripes at a young age.

“Now you see jockeys emerging a bit later,” he said.

“They haven’t reviewed the rules on this for hundreds of years.

“They haven’t looked at the situation where an apprentice hasn’t had the opportunity (to outride their claim).

Mick Dittman, with son Luke, believes apprentice jockeys should keep their claim until they outride it, rather than losing all claims the moment they end their apprenticeship. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“The good ones don’t need it and they can compete with the senior jockeys on level terms. But the vast majority of riders do.

“I’m not saying this just because I have a son about to come out of his time.

“Luke will be fine and I think he could end up a very good rider, but there’s so many others who are just lost to the game.”

Australian Jockeys Association general manager Des O’Keeffe said it was an idea that had been canvassed previously and had been adopted in Hong Kong, but one that had not gained traction in Australia.

“It’s an interesting idea and we are always conscious of looking if there is a better way to do something,” O’Keeffe said.

“There are numerous cases every year of riders that transition to other areas of employment because of a lack of opportunity.”

Dittman now acts as racing manager for one of Singapore’s biggest owners, Lim Siah Mong, and spends most of his time abroad.

“We’ve got a team of 40 in work with different trainers and he wants to get to around 55 in work, so it keeps me very busy,” he said.

Originally published as Champion jockey Mick Dittman calls for claims review so industry can put clamp on loss of apprentices