'We want a trouble-free race as the start of a trouble-free season'
Hong Kong jockeys were advised to look into boosting their own injury insurance cover yesterday even as officials highlighted a greater emphasis on safety this season which will see Happy Valley race fields cut to a maximum of 12. The maximum fine for any transgression of the rules has also been doubled to $600,000.
The jockeys were also given notice of a proposed rule change that would require them to inform the stipendiary stewards of anything which occurred in any race to influence the performance of their mount.
The specially-convened meeting with Jockey Club officials left riders in no doubt about the importance of safety issues as the season opens this Sunday at Sha Tin. The grim shadow of life-shattering race falls hung over the 2001-2002 season, from the death of 20-year-old apprentice Philip C.T. Cheng on September 26 after a Happy Valley fall through to the crippling injuries suffered by David Harrison in late May at Sha Tin.
In addition, there were back injuries suffered by Dwayne Dunn after a Happy Valley accident in March and a three-horse pile-up at Sha Tin just days after Harrison's crash, leaving Shane Dye with multiple injuries. On the training track, a fall left work rider Chan Kwok-leung in a coma.
In his post-script to the season, Jockey Club executive director of racing Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told the South China Morning Post : 'The accident rate this season was unacceptable and we have to do all we can to avoid another season like this one.'
Yesterday, Engelbrecht-Bresges was at pains to remind jockeys of their obligations to each other regarding being two lengths clear. 'We impressed on the riders that the rule regarding being clear before crossing is going to be strongly enforced - more strongly than previously.'
'The maximum fine available to the stewards is up from $300,000 to $600,000, an indication that the board of stewards obviously believed that the fines needed to be adjusted to offer a greater deterrent.'