Jockeys hopeful of 'positive change' on weight allowance after meeting with BHA

Jockeys are hoping for “positive change” on the contentious issue of scrapping weight allowances after a meeting with the BHA and National Trainers Federation (NTF) on Wednesday.

Representatives of the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), BHA and NTF met with senior riders at Kempton following widespread outcry and anger from the weighing room last week over the BHA's plan to end the 3lb Covid weight allowance and instead increase weights by 2lb from the start of the Flat turf season on March 26.

PJA joint-president PJ McDonald said riders had been “blindsided” by the announcement, but those jockeys who attended the meeting on Wednesday believed the discussion left open the prospect of a change to the plan.

Tom Marquand, who was among the riders present, said on Thursday: “No conclusions have been drawn but it was a good, positive talk and everyone got the chance to say their side of the story. We were given reasons for what might happen and I think everyone left more informed from all angles.

“Hopefully it leads to positive change and from what’s been said in the weighing room that would be to do with an allowance. But this is an ongoing thing and it will be genuinely interesting to see what comes out of it.”

Fellow rider Rab Havlin praised the BHA’s willingness to engage with riders and said: “We were laying out what we thought had been overlooked but it wasn’t a decision-making meeting. Everyone put in their case and they’re going away to see what comes of it.

“It was really positive that the BHA agreed to come and talk and listen to us. It felt like they had come there to listen and be constructive rather than just explain why the decision was taken.

“People want to get this sorted and our points were that if they're taking away the saunas then we need some kind of allowance to counter that.”

The talks were described as “constructive” by the NTF and BHA, and a spokesman for the BHA said: “We are grateful to those who attended for giving their time and for their input into the session. The discussions will continue and a further update will be provided in due course.”

The PJA’s interim chief executive Dale Gibson admitted last week that the organisation “could have done more” on the weight allowance and that they were “working hard to find the best solution”.

In a statement released on Thursday, Gibson said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet the BHA and NTF, which included testimony from senior jockeys. Further considerate discussion between all relevant parties continues.”

Read more on this subject:

BHA defends move to raise riding weights despite criticism from jockeys

'It's not going to help any of us' – jockeys critical of minimum weights rise

'A complete con' – how jockeys have reacted on social media to rise in weights

Why are jockeys up in arms about the change to the minimum weights in Britain?

All saunas to be removed as Britain's weighing rooms undergo modernisation

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