Racing charities deserve our support at this time of giving

At this time of year, as people prepare to gather their families around them, we should remember the great work by racing’s charities, in particular the Injured Jockeys Fund and Racing Welfare, in coming to the aid of the needy. With so many Christmas racing highlights in store, this is also a good time to remind ourselves of the risks taken by others in keeping the show on the road.

But we should also recognise how times have changed. Not so long ago jockeys were treated as second-class citizens, they were frequently addressed by their surnames even by trainers and there was scant regard for their welfare.

The top riders were revered by the public and were well paid with lucrative retainers, but lower down the pecking order many struggled to make a decent living and barely earned a bean if they were unable to ride.