India

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.

Jockeys receive 7.5% of the total purse offered for all the prized positions in a handicap race, which are, winner, 2nd, 3rd and 4th finishes. In Grade I Races, jockeys receive 4.5%, 1.425%, 0.675%, 0.225% and 0.15% of the total purse offered for the winner, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th finishes. In Grade II Races, jockeys receive is 4.5%, 1.65%, 0.9% and 0.45% of the total purse offered for the winner, 2nd, 3rd and 4th finishes and in Grade III Races, it is the same as in Grade II.

In Sweepstakes races with a total prize of US $ 1200 or less, the contribution by the jockeys is 4.275%, 1.8%, 0.975% and 0.45% of the prized positions, winner, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

Jockeys receive US $ 33.75 as riding fee.

Jockeys voluntarily contribute 13.33% of their earnings of the purse distribution in a handicap race to the Association. They do not offer any amount from the purse they receive in Graded Races and Sweepstakes Races with a purse in excess of US $ 1200. In addition, they give US $ 0.75 for every ride accepted.

Jockeys who are not members of the Association do not contribute any amount from the riding fee.

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.

We do not have any social health care schemes available to jockeys, here in India. The Jockeys Association takes an annual Insurance cover of US $ 4500 for every member including his family.

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 jockeys are not covered under a workers’ compensation program. The Turf Club that has licensed the jockey gives a compensation of US $ 22,500 for permanent total disablement or fatal accident cases. In addition, the Jockeys Association gives a compensation US $ 18,000 in such cases. When a jockey gets injured in an accident on the racetrack, the Turf Club under whose jurisdiction the accident took place pays for the medical treatment.

The Turf Club also pays a weekly allowance of US $ 22.50, post hospitalization, in lieu of injury for a maximum of 104 weeks. In addition, the Jockeys Association, pays a similar allowance of US $ 15.75 per week, also with a cap of 104 weeks.

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 advised to buy a personal medical insurance policy in their country for the period of their stay, before travelling to India.

In the event of an injury due to an accident on the race track, the turf club in whose jurisdiction the accident occurs, provides for medical treatment in a multi super speciality hospital and upon discharge, the medical expenses incurred during the period of convalescence, too is paid by the turf club.

Should the injured jockey at any time after the accident (subject to obtaining qualified medical permission) want to continue the treatment in his country/home, the shifting charges are to be borne by the individual.

Once the jockey leaves the centre at which the accident happened, the turf club does not pay for any treatment undertaken by the jockey.

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

The jockeys and all the Turf Clubs in India, who match the 13.33% contributed by jockeys are the major contributions received by the jockey’s association.

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

No

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.

As in 5 above

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.

Please see 3 above. In addition, a jockey at the time of retirement receives a sum ranging from US $ 225, 300, 450 & 600 annually, depending on the number of years he has been a professional jockey.

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

The retired jockeys are given the option of joining the group medi-claim cover given to active jockeys for a maximum of three years subsequent to the year of retirement by paying 50% of the annual premium. However, the cover is limited to the retired jockey only, not extended to his family.

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

No

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.

It is mandatory for a qualified medical practitioner to be present at the racetrack for race meetings. There are two emergency and trauma care ambulances at all the racetracks for race meetings and daily morning exercise (in India, horses are exercised at the racetracks). A para medic is attached to each ambulance. Every Turf Club has an agreement with a super specialty hospital in the city to provide emergency medical attention and specialists to attend to jockeys. An attendant, either employed by the jockey’s association or the Turf Club accompanies the injured to the hospital, to co-ordinate with the Club officials and inform the family of the injured.

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

This has been explained above.

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

No. However, it is important to add that the jockey’s association gives financial assistance to active and retired jockeys on humanitarian grounds on need basis. These payments may be ex-gratia or interest free loan with no fixed repayment schedule. Many times, the loans turn bad, but the jockeys here in India share a spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie and usually rally behind a needy to the best of their ability. The unity among jockeys is well accepted and acknowledged within the racing fraternity.

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?

With the initiative taken by JAI and Turf Authorities of India, the jockeys are provided with safety equipment at a discounted price. We, the jockey’s association have importing safety vests and helmets which is partly funded by the Turf Clubs – 60% of cost of helmets and 33.33% of safety vests, the association will pay 30% and 33.33% respectively and the jockeys the remaining part of the cost. The Turf Clubs are responsible for the compliance with the rules.

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

Yes. The minimum age for jockeys to apply for a license is 16 years. While there are a few amateur riding institutes in India, no structured training program is in place. No schooling or training is mandated.

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

Only the Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd, Mumbai, provides jockeys quarters. None of the other clubs offer accommodation to the jockeys. Here the administration or clubs runs no kitchen. Food is available to jockeys, provided by the turf clubs, during race meetings, however it is frugal.

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.

The minimum scale of weights for riders in India is 50kg (7st 12lb). The equipment included when a jockey weighs out is body protector, saddle with stirrup irons and cloth and surcingle

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

No

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?

While there is no ban on advertising by the turf clubs., the fee to allow jockeys to advertise for a brand is US $ 750 per season. With negligible TV coverage of live races in India and no reach to public outside the racecourses, there are no takers. The latter part of the query under the present circumstances is not applicable.

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?

There are no jockeys’ agents here in India. Valets are paid directly by the jockeys. The salary of valets is decided privately between the jockey and valet. A valet attends to more than one jockey.