After Cheltenham abandonment some top jockeys went to Huntingdon.Taking rides off young apprentices.?

Question

After a good day at Cheltenham,Robert Thornton went to Huntingdon on wednesday because Cheltenham was off.

In the 2.15 a £3k race,he rode Atomic Winner to victory.

Jack Doyle was booked to ride,his only ride of the day.If he was booked and A.King took him off to let Robert Thornton

ride instead.Does he still get paid,I would hope so,he is a

apprentice who needs to ride to live.Robert Thornton won a

£68k and a £205k race.At 5% giving him £13,650 plus ride

fees,he did not need to take £150 out of a apprentices mouth.

Answer 1

No the conditional rider would not have been paid his riding fee as it is only payable once the jockey has weighed out.

Most conditionals and apprentices are employed by a particular yard (ie not freelance like most senior jockeys) so he will still have been paid for his days work.

You are right that it is not fair for the senior jockeys to "take rides away" but that decision is made by the owner and the trainer.  If you owned a horse and you were told AP was available to ride in place of the young lad you had already booked, do you honestly think you would not be tempted to jock him off?!

The problem with ALL jockeys is that they need to ride to eat, as you have said.  Robert Thornton could suffer a serious fall tomorrow (god forbid) and be out of action for months with serious medical bills and a mortgage to pay - they all want to ride and win as often as possible.

Answer 2

are you drunk.....you put the best jockey you can on your

horse.