New booking fee to compensate riders in face of non-runners

There will be no rise in the basic riding fee for jockeys in 2020 but, in a deal hailed by both the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) and the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), progress has been made in regard to payment for non-runners.

Under the new agreement, reached in collaboration by the ROA and PJA, jockeys will be paid 50 per cent of the riding fee as a booking fee for any horse that becomes a non-runner after final declarations.

This replaces the current system, whereby jockeys are paid 40 per cent of the riding fee but only when a horse is scratched after 9am on the day it is due to run.

Jockeys will be paid 50 per cent of the riding fee as a booking fee for any horse that becomes a non-runner after final declarations.Credit: Alan Crowhurst

The fee per ride on the Flat remains unchanged at £127.14 and £173.59 over jumps.

"We're delighted to have negotiated a booking fee for all professional riders once the final jockey declaration deadline occurs," said Dale Gibson, executive director of the PJA.

"The agreement, in lieu of an annual inflationary riding fee increase, is cost neutral for owners using up to date non-runner figures. We look forward to continued dialogue with the ROA to further improve jockeys' finances, and trust that total non-runner figures can be reduced in future."

ROA chief executive Charlie Liverton highlighted the new deal would not impose any extra financial burden on owners.

"At a time when costs for owners are continuing to increase, the Board of the ROA are pleased to announce this new measure which will avoid another price rise across the board for owners," said Liverton.

"The new structure for the payment of fees for jockeys engaged on non-runners appreciates the lost opportunity."

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