Hong Kong

1. Please describe how the jockeys are paid in your country. If appropriate, please provide the monetary amount for compensation or the percentage for riding fees, as well as the percentage of the purse distribution. Of these fees, please advise how much, if any, each rider contributes to benefits and/or the jockey association.

All riding fees are paid by the Club directly into the Jockey’s account on a monthly basis. Jockeys receive 10% of all winning prize money and 5% of prize money for placings from 2nd to 5th. Owners contribute HK$2200 per ride of which the rider receives HK$1200. The remaining HK$1000 is allocated towards the costs of providing jockeys with accommodation, a vehicle, mobile phone, all medical expenses for himself and family as well as return airfares (Inc. family) annually. All riders contribute a further amount of HK$10 per ride which is allocated towards the Jockeys & Apprentice Accident Fund.

2. Please advise if your country provides socialized medicine. If not, please describe the health care that is provided to riders and who contributes to the cost of such expense.

Jockeys as well as their spouse and children under 18 years of age are provided with full medical cover with some exceptions which includes dental and optical. This is with the medical group Quality HealthCare with the Club meeting all expenses.

3. Please advise if jockeys are covered under a workers’ compensation program or something similar in the event of an accident in your country. If not, who is responsible for the cost of care for the injured jockey?

The Club provides all jockeys with medical and personal accident insurance as well as legal liability coverage. All medical expenses for work-related injuries will be borne by medical insurance and through Club funds. For temporary disablement riders are paid HK$2590 per day. Accidental death or permanent total disability to engage in own occupation as a jockey are eligible for benefits up to a maximum of HK$6 Million. This is funded through the Club’s insurance policy and benevolent fund.

4. Please advise if foreign riders are covered if they are injured in your country. If so, who provides the insurance for foreign riders when they come to ride? How long is the coverage? Does it only cover medical care received in your country or does it also cover care once they have returned home?

Foreign jockeys are fully covered by the Club in accordance with those benefits provided to local riders. Medical care and temporary disablements payments (up to a maximum of 104 weeks) will continue to be paid to rider upon return to their country upon receipt of evidence of ongoing disability.

5. Please provide all sources of funding for your jockey association.

Due to a relatively small population of jockeys (approx. 25) no jockeys’ association exists. However, Club management meets with jockeys on a regular basis.

6. Please advise if it is mandatory for jockeys to be a member of your organization.

Not applicable.

7. Please provide all sources of funding for the jockey benefits that your members receive, including contributions from the jockeys, the owners, your association, the government and racing bodies, etc.

See 1 above. In short, riding fees and percentage are paid by owners who also contribute HK$2200 per race ride. Owners will often provide jockeys with additional fee/gratuity for a winning ride.

8. Please provide a description of all benefits provided to the jockeys who are members of your organization such as disability benefits including temporary or permanent disabilities, death benefits, pension plans, medical insurance and coverage, etc.

All such benefits are set out above. Jockeys in Hong Kong are not however provided with any pension plan.

9. Please provide a description of benefits provided for retired jockeys, if any, in addition to the benefits provided to active riders.

Retired jockeys do not receive any further benefits however the Club, at its absolute discretion, may make grants from The Benevolent Fund to a rider and their dependents. Such claims are determined by the Stewards of the Jockey Club on their merits.

10. Please advise if your association receives any of the fines paid by jockeys as a result of racing infractions or violations.

All fines are directed to The Benevolent Fund which exists for the relief of Jockeys, Apprentices, Trainers and Trackwork Riders.

11. Please provide any and all information pertaining to the medical standards and guidelines or requirements during race meets. For example, the number of doctors, medical personnel, ambulances, relations with medical trauma centers, etc.

The Club has an agreement with the HK Hospital Authority which provides 2 emergency physicians and 2 qualified nurses with A&E experience from the Accident & Emergency ward of hospitals nearby to Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourses to officiate at each race meeting. For the duration of each race meeting 2 ambulance units manned by fully qualified St John’s Ambulance officers are also provided. The Club has an agreement with the Union Hospital to provide a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) from a panel of 3 specialists in trauma management. The CMO officiates at all official barrier trials to render assistance to any injured rider and also at all race meeting in Hong Kong. The CMO supervises all medical responses involving Jockeys and provides advice to the Stewards regarding a Jockey’s Fitness to Ride.

12. If required, who is responsible for the cost of liability policies for coverage of the jockeys in the event of an accident?

The Club covers all jockeys for legal liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of HK$20 Million per accident. This is worldwide coverage excluding USA and Canada.

13. Please advise if your organization has a charity fund to assist riders (both active and retired) with hardships and who provides the funding.

See 9 & 10.

14. Please provide the standards for the safety vest and for the helmets for the jockeys. Who is responsible for inspecting the equipment to make sure that it is in compliance with the rules. Is any of the equipment provided by or paid for by the association or others?

The Stipendiary Stewards regularly inspect the safety vests and helmets worn by jockeys and track work riders. The Club provides all equipment to Apprentice Jockeys and work riders, all of whom are employees of the Club. Jockeys must provide their own equipment. The following standards are set down by the Rules of Racing of the HKJC;

15. Is there a minimum and/or maximum age for licensing? Is schooling or training mandated?

The Rules of Racing do not impose any age restriction on Apprentice Jockeys or Jockeys. In reality, all Apprentices must undertake a rigorous traineeship with the Club which will ordinarily take 2 to 3 years before undertaking overseas race riding experience. The youngest any trainee apprentice may apply is 15 years of age.

16. Please explain with regards to the kitchens in the jockey quarter or food that is available to riders during the race day.

At each racecourse the Jockeys’ Room lounge contains a dining room which offers a wide range of freshly prepared meals and other refreshments for riders.

17. Please advise the minimum scale of weights for riders in your country. Additionally, please advise what equipment is included when a jockey weighs out before the race.

Minimum weight is 113lbs (51kg) and maximum weight of 133lbs (60.5kg).

When weighing out a jockey must include his safety vest and race colors, saddle together with lead bag, packing etc.

Number cloth, helmet, whip, goggles, bridle, rings, breastplate, muzzle, hood, blinkers, pacifiers, martingale and anything worn on the horse’s legs are not included.

18. Please advise if your organization provides assistance and education pertaining health and well-being such nutrition, psychological, job retraining, etc.

Yes, but primarily to Apprentices Jockeys and Local riders. Local jockeys who are deemed to fall short of the required standard are offered full time employment as a work rider with the opportunity to also work in stables and receive overseas training to enhance their prospects of being licensed as an Assistant Trainer. Of the current list of 23 trainers in Hong Kong, 8 are formerly licensed jockeys in HK.

19. Is jockey advertising allowed in your country? If so, what are the requirements to allow for jockeys to wear the advertising? Is it the individual riders who enter into the contracts with the sponsors or does your organization handle to negotiations? How are the proceeds of the contracts distributed or do all of the funds go to the individual jockey?

Jockeys are not permitted to wear any form of advertising whether in track work or races.

20. How are the jockey agents and valets paid? What is the usual percentage that the agents receive? What is the usual percentage for valets?

Jockeys are not permitted to have agents act on their behalf. Only newly licensed Club Jockeys receive the benefit of a Club appointed agent who will assist them for the initial 2 to 3 months of their contract. The Club provides valets to assist all jockeys.