Australian Jockeys' Association

Top jockey, Hugh Bowman, has been appointed an Ambassador for Synapse, an organization that strives to be the peak disability organisation providing specialist services to those living with Acquired Brain Injury or behaviours that challenge our understanding. Synapse is honored to have the backing of this Champion Jockey. You can read more about the work of Synapse at http://synapse.org.au/ .

The ‘backyard blitz’ style transformation of former jockey Kristy Banks’ property
goes to air on Sky Racing World (channel 521 on FOXTEL) tomorrow night.

Sky Racing joined forces with the Brisbane Racing Club to support the former
Queensland jockey who suffered a race fall at Toowoomba in December 2011, with
her injuries rendering her a paraplegic. The popular thoroughbred racing program,
Off the Rails will present the one-off Kristy Banks special on Sky Racing World at
8pm tomorrow night.

Pam O'Neill turned 60 this year [2005]. It is 42 years since she was banned from walking in Eagle Farm's front gate with a horse.

The 20, 30 and 40 year old racing followers of today, probably have no remote clue as to the enormity of the struggle that women jockeys have endured to get to where they are today.

THERE are few things more damaging to a person's confidence and sense of self worth than when their integrity is called into question.

Many in the jockey profession have spent years building their reputations, adhering to the highest professional standards, wearing their honour with a sense of pride.

Recent shocking allegations against a few individual jockeys are threatening to undermine the integrity of us all.

I started my career as a jockey in 1962.

Australian Jockeys’ Association CEO, Paul Innes, has congratulated Australia’s oldest jockey Neville Wilson on an exceptional career spanning five decades in the racing industry.

Wilson retired from the profession yesterday, aged 65, after sustaining career-ending injuries in a fall at Geelong last year.

Wilson rode in more than 20,000 races, bringing home in excess of 2000 winners, including five group 1 wins. Mr Innes said Wilson was a great ambassador for the sport, with a career riding record second to none.

The Australian Jockeys Association today called on other Australian states to match or exceed improvements made to jockey facilities in regional areas as announced by the Victorian Government this week.

The Victorian Government will invest $225,000 to upgrade jockey rooms at five country racing clubs to accommodate the growing number of female jockeys.

Australian Jockeys’ Association CEO Paul Innes said female jockeys had put up with sub-standard facilities for too long.

The Australian Jockeys Association has welcomed today’s announcement of Racing NSW’s $30 million funding for racecourse improvement across the state.

AJA CEO, Paul Innes, said the additional funding provides a prime opportunity for making critical safety improvements that better protect the lives of jockeys.

“Racing NSW should ensure that a significant amount of the new $30 million funding is invested in improving track safety,” Mr Innes said today.