Vital jockeys' insurance scheme at risk as Stobart ends backing

Funding for a crucial jockeys' insurance scheme, which has helped the likes of Freddy Tylicki and Ryan Hatch after their careers were ended by injury, is in jeopardy following the decision by long-term backer the Stobart Group to end its association with the Professional Jockeys Association.

The Career Ending Insurance (CEI) scheme offers up to £100,000 to PJA members who are no longer able to ride for a living, but continuation of the protection depends on whether a replacement can be found for Stobart for 2020 and beyond.

Stobart has been a significant supporter of racing, and particularly jockeys, since 2011 with the group's former chief executive Andrew Tinkler a passionate owner and breeder, whose colours were carried to big-race success by the likes of Sweet Lightning and Royal Diamond.

However, since Tinkler was ousted from the company last year, Stobart has been scaling back its involvement in the sport, which had included sponsorship of last year's Northumberland Plate and backing of the Flat and jump jockeys' championships.

Stobart's biggest contribution to racing was through its sponsorship deal with the PJA which allowed the return of the CEI scheme in 2011 after a three-year hiatus due to spiralling insurance premiums. In return, the Stobart logo became a familiar sight on the bottoms of jockeys, the first time such a sponsorship had been permitted in this area.

Nigel Payne: confident PJA can secure a new backer for the schemeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

With Stobart retreating from racing, the PJA is putting in place a proposal document to secure the significant level of funding required, a task made more difficult by the inability of a bookmaker to take over sponsorship of the site on riders' rears.

Nevertheless, Nigel Payne, chairman of the PJA, is optimistic a new sponsor will be found and feels the opportunity is one a commercial partner will embrace.

"Our position is that we are currently looking for a new partner and we are in the final stages of putting a composite document together to put to interested parties," he said on Sunday.

"We've been working very hard, in partnership with Great British Racing, to find new sponsorship and we have confidence we'll find a new backer before the Stobart deal finishes at the end of the season."

Outlining the importance of the funding from Stobart, Payne added: "To have a partner in this is crucial. We don't have the sort of money to be able to run the scheme as it is without one. It's a fantastic scheme and one of the major benefits for members.

"It's also a great opportunity for a brand to have huge exposure throughout the year at some of the biggest sporting events there are."

The nature of the deal being offered by the PJA now differs from the one created when Stobart came on board in 2011, which should make attracting a new sponsor easier, according to Tinkler.

Andrew Tinkler: passionate owner and breeder of horsesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He said on Sunday: "When I was at the Stobart Group we were always keen on growing the brand, and we came up with a deal with the PJA that worked for both sides. It's been a good partnership for all involved and it's now in a position where the PJA can offer a clear product with a value to a new partner.

"We've always appreciated the amount of hard work put in by jockeys and it'd be a real shame for the insurance scheme to fall away as it offers them such good protection."

As well as the CEI scheme, new sponsors are being sought for the jockeys' championships and The Lesters awards night, which have previously been backed by the Stobart Group.

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