How two of Britain's top jockeys' agents are dealing with racing's shutdown

Some would argue the life of a jockeys' agent is perfectly suited to self-isolation. Their phones should be ringing off the hook and they should be glued to racing, calculating which of their clients should be on which horses in the future.

But with racing under lockdown, Dave Roberts and Tony Hind – between them responsible for many of Britain's top riding talents on the Flat and over jumps – are left with no income and time on their hands.

Roberts at least knows where he stands, with everyone on a roster that includes Richard Johnson, Nico de Boinville and Aidan Coleman stood down at least until July 1, thanks to the BHA's decision not to look at a reintroduction of jump racing before that date.

"I'm old enough to remember when we used to finish at Stratford and start again at Newton Abbot and we would have six or seven weeks off in the summer," says Roberts. "To me it's like going back to the good old days. I'm not against summer racing but there should be a gap where everybody gets at least four weeks off."

Roberts is full square behind the decision to suspend racing and says he is not finding it hard to fill his time.

Dave Roberts: agent to top jump jockeys including Richard JohnsonCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I'm a great believer that you live for the day and I certainly haven't watched any old sport because you go forward and it's time to do other things," says Roberts. "I've registered for a lot of the volunteer groups and done a lot of that kind of work. Whatever I can do, I will do."

Roberts is concerned any decision to resume has to take account of the public mood.

He says: "I have a strong view on it and not everyone will agree. And I can only comment on jump racing but it's my sport, my hobby and my industry. As much as sport is big news, it's not as big as what else is happening in the world and that's where we have to be careful. We don't want people to see racing as being greedy or jumping the gun."

Hind, who is agent to a select group of Flat racing's elite including Ryan Moore, William Buick and Jim Crowley, usually wraps up for the winter after the November Handicap.

"I was just about to start back properly and bang, that was it," says Hind. "My life hasn't really changed, it has just prolonged the break.

Tony Hind: Ryan Moore's agent believes the racing industry has always pulled together in times of crisis

"There's nothing you can do because you just don't know when it's going to start back. It all depends on the British people adhering to the government rules and let's try to control this thing as best we can."

Hind is fully behind every effort to restart racing behind closed doors as soon as the BHA can safely manage it, and says he has been impressed the way the sport has united in the face of adversity.

"Paul Struthers of the Professional Jockeys Association rang me about two weeks ago," he says. "There are a lot of agents out there who wouldn’t have the jockeys I have, or the volume that Dave Roberts and Richard Hale would have. If there is anything coming from the PJA, you’ve got to try to level it out the best way you can.

"The PJA didn't have to do anything for agents or valets but they have. At least they’re thinking of us. When you get times of crisis, racing really is an industry that pulls together, and it always has done."

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