Victorian jockeys set for showdown with owners and trainers over jumpout pay demand

Victorian jockeys are set to step up its long-running battle to be compensated for riding in jumpouts.

Victorian jockeys could stop taking part in unpaid jumpouts. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Victorian jockeys are set for a showdown with owners and trainers after refusing to ride in jumpouts at main racing centres from December 1.

On Tuesday, the Victorian Jockeys’ Association called on its senior members to stop riding in the unofficial barrier trials at Cranbourne, Pakenham, Mornington, Caulfield, Balnarring, Ballarat and Flemington from Sunday until they are paid.

Apprentices will continue to ride in jumpouts as will jockeys that have their own arrangements with stables at the affected venues.

Jockeys are paid $110 plus superannuation to ride in official trials of which Racing Victoria has scheduled 48 sets in the racing season.

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VJA chief executive Matt Hyland said the action was the result of an unresolved eight-year discussion with Racing Victoria and other stakeholders.

Hyland said the way forward was to designate jumpouts held at the main centres as official trials to enable the jockeys to receive a riding fee.

Hyland noted Racing Victoria had improved the visibility of jumpouts with better footage, a requirement for jockeys to wear colours and adding results to each horse’s form on racing.com.

“The jumpouts are reflective now of official trials,” Hyland said.

“We’ve seen an uplift in the callers, the colours, the vision, the form and the whole thing but the only thing that got left behind were the jockeys.

“That’s not lost on the group.

“We said to RV that we should convert them to official trials and we’ll leave it to you to work out with the other stakeholders.

“This item has been on the agenda for eight years, since I started this job.

“It’s ludicrous on a Monday at Cranbourne that jockeys are paid $110 plus super to ride in trials then turn up the next Monday to ride in jumpouts and do exactly the same thing and not get paid.”

Trainer Henry Dwyer says paying jockeys for jumpouts could result in other participants receiving less. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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Ballarat-based Group 1-winning trainer Henry Dwyer led the charge against the VJA’s action on Wednesday, slamming the jockeys’ announcement on X.

“There’s a finite pool of income to be distributed post operating expenses within the VRI (Victorian Racing Industry),” Dwyer wrote.

“Quite simply, if jockeys get more, every other participant gets less (through p/money mechanism).

“Not one person in the industry would argue that being a jockey is not a difficult and dangerous occupation, however is it any more difficult, or dangerous than when (the) last riding fee increase (was) implemented citing those reasons?

“The fact industrial action seems to be the modus operandi for VJA each time they want something could be seen as highly contemptuous of every other hard working participant.”

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey turned trainer Michelle Payne suggested a balanced approach to the issue.

“Maybe, to be fair, the industry can pay less for an official trial but something for a jump out?” Payne wrote.

“To ask (jockeys) to travel and work all morning for nothing isn’t right.”

Originally published as Victorian jockeys set for showdown with owners and trainers over jumpout pay demand