Dedication and bravery are prerequisites of almost every sport, and these qualities are found in abundance in racing. Australian jockeys are elite athletes who quite literally place their lives on the line every time they compete in a race. Sadly, serious injuries are a frequent occurrence, and more than 300 riders have lost their lives since Australian racing first began. While accident insurance has become an essential feature of racing, all too often there are cases where jockeys and or their families are plunged into financial hardship.
The National Jockeys’ Trust is a public charitable trust established in 2004 for the purpose of providing funds and other benefits for the relief of the financial difficulties and needs of jockeys (including apprentice jockeys) and their families, especially where such needs arise through serious injury, illness or death of a jockey. The Trust has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as an income tax exempt charity and as a deductible gift recipient, and has been registered by the charitable organisation’s licensing agencies in all 8 States and Territories. Grants of financial assistance made by the Trust are strictly governed by the Trust’s Deed. The National Jockeys’ Trust faces a real challenge in raising the funds that are required to provide meaningful assistance to an acceptable percentage of those who qualify under the NJT’s charter.
