17th June 2002 Turfcall History of the British Jockey Club

The exact date that the Jockey Club was founded in Britain is not known. But it is thought to be around 1750 when a meeting in London is recorded, held at The Star and Garter in Pall Mall, through the interests of major horse owners … players … of the day, important and influential people who from the outset formed a Club for themselves and their friends. Their passion and commitment to horseracing was shown by the way they set out their markers to ensure organised, fair racing took place on all occasions … they refused to let anyone get in their way, and took action about this time against the then Prince of Wales … this care earned and won the Club respect.

As time evolved and by 1752 The Club where drawn by changes into making and keeping the Rules of Racing and organising the running of racing heralded as the regulatory authorities body for British horseracing. The Racing Calendar came into being and announced that there was to be a race for horses owned by members of the Club to enter, to be run on April 4th 1752.

Today 2002 the Jockey Club’s impressive Newmarket properties and gallops, can be seen very much as then. The original leather chairs where no posterior’s are allowed to sit, the walls lined with horsehair, a treasure trove of priceless art and memorabilia, life size caricatures, horse shoe desk, and “The Mat” for those jockey’s unfortunate enough to have to appear before the Stewards. All run today under the management of The Jockey Club Estates a business which pays for itself, and who’s primary objective and drive commitment to British horseracing remains we are told as in the 1750’s. But are they … ? One is left to ponder …? Some serious questions still need urgent answers is the view of Turfcall. Glaring factors that are not even being addressed leave alone anything being done to set them to rights … what for instance is to become the lot of the grassroots workforce the trainers teams …? What is left of this workforce … that is … a workforce long brought to its knees through total neglect and misunderstanding’s beyond all reason.

The 1970’s and 1980’s saw a period of bitter criticism of the institution, many felt that the Jockey Club had to change. The Jockey Club admit that they were not equipped to cope with all the problems that they were having to face daily as the sole governing authority of British horseracing. Which eventually led to the setting up of the The British Horseracing Board the BHB in 1993.

The BHB were elected to diplomatically represent all parts of this industry, to care for the workforce, the trainer’s teams, all those horsemen and horsewomen who’s skill and art in daily care and nurturing of these beautiful young thoroughbred creatures, put and keep the show on the road daily, the political and the commercial side of the industry.

The Jockey Club passed over responsibility to the BHB in regard to handicapping, the fixture list, race planning and the commercial side of things. Whilst they themselves tell us that they remain to focus on what they do best regulation as set up initially in 1752 to ensure that British horseracing continues to be run fairly and safely and to remain fully committed to the wellbeing of racing as a whole.

Over the last four decades as from the 1960’s the trainers have been left in the position to be unable to pay fair remuneration to their team personnel, leading to many being forced to leave their careers in racing altogether. That shortly things may improve and money will filter it is hoped … we are told down to the trainer team personnel is a statement that is totally unacceptable. If it means that some of those Stubbs paintings which hang in the Jockey Club rooms in Newmarket be sold so be it, but monies have to be found to set now the proper standard and structure for Grade A and Grade B staff, to focus on who they actually are and to ensure correct remuneration and recognition for the trainers teams personnel to have a proper life and full recognition as to the skill and art of the invaluable work they perform. With a thorough five year initial training program for the youngsters starting out. And further specialist courses in all key areas of expertise thereafter.

Now in 2002 Turfcall takes the view that the Jockey Club and the BHB as they stand today are still far from the mark in addressing fairly and properly the conditions rights and remuneration reward for the workforce … ‘The Providers’ … all those who work at the sharp end … who set this game up daily for others to play. Until these authorities stop exploiting ‘The Providers’ these teams of horsemen and horsewomen they are living a lie.

These authorities are not upholding the Rules of Racing so keenly adhered to in the 1750’s and they are not upholding their stated aims as they attempt to lead us to believe that they are: To protect the safety and welfare of horse and rider … To ensure the fair running of every race … They go on to state that ‘Under no circumstances would the Jockey Club condone the action of any rider which compromises the welfare of a horse.’ The Jockey Club Regulators and the British Horseracing Governors between them should be looking to ensure to set and uphold all these standards, instead of totally disregarding such dangerous key issues of vital need, and over such a long period of time. They continue to fail to serve the wellbeing of British horseracing in a balanced or fair way, they have much unfinished business to see to, and unless they get down to it whole heartedly as top priority their commercial racecourse stage will be an empty one.

The Government have until very recently housed their responsibilities to British horseracing at the Home Office under GAMBLING, from which they have subtracted huge amounts of money. This year 2002 they have moved it to the Department of Culture Media and Sport. It is therefore clear that they have been responsible to a considerable extent and over 4 decades of cashing in at other peoples expense. They have completely overlooked the fact over and after all this time that there is another side to British horseracing …THE SUPPLIERS OF THE HORSERACING PRODUCT ‘THE PROVIDORS’. All those who work at the sharp end. Exploitation on this scale is a scandal of MEGA proportion.