AJA delighted to announce 2015 Betfair Novice Amateur Flat Series
01-04-2015
The third running of the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series is looked forward to by The Amateur Jockeys Association who are delighted to announce this year’s calendar. The Series is open to amateur jockeys who are members of the AJA and who at the start of the 2015 Flat Season have ridden no more than 3 winners under the Rules of Racing (both Jump and Flat). This excludes Point-to-Point and Arab racing wins.
As in previous years, The Amateur Jockeys Association will manage the series in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority. Jockey Coaches based at the Northern Racing College near Doncaster will also repeat their invaluable role walking the course with participating jockeys before each race to offer help and advice as well as providing invaluable feedback following weigh in with video support.
This year the series of 8 races culminates in the finale at Carlisle’s meeting on Wednesday 9th September. Points will be awarded to riders with 10 points for the winner, 6 for second, 4 for third and 2 for fourth. Also-rans will be awarded 1 point. In addition to winning connections being presented with Betfair trophies after each race, the winning series jockey will be presented with the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series Trophy. The series winning slot was shared jointly last year by Phil Dennis and Joanna Walton.
The 8-race 2015 series is scheduled to take place as follows:
Saturday 4th July Nottingham
Wednesday 15th July Catterick Bridge
Wednesday 22nd July Leicester
Wednesday 29th July Redcar
Sunday 9th August Royal Windsor
Monday 10th August Thirsk
Bank Holiday Monday 31st August Ripon
Wednesday 9th September Carlisle
Barry Orr, Head of Public Relations at Betfair, commented today: ‘’This series has been well received and supported by all aspects of the racing community and we are happy to once again give it our backing. Many thanks to Sarah Oliver for her continued hard work in ensuring the 8 races are a success for all involved’’
Dawn Goodfellow, CEO of The Northern Racing College, said “The Northern Racing College are delighted to be supporting this series, which we see as providing an excellent educational opportunity for amateur riders, thus further driving up the already high standards that we enjoy seeing from British amateur riders.”
Sarah Oliver, CEO of the AJA, said “Enquries are already coming in for this series which is eagerly awaited by many of our members. Last year’s races proved as popular as ever and it was excellent to see 45 individual novice flat amateurs enjoy 84 rides between them on 8 different racecourses. In addition, three of the participating jockeys – the series joint-winner Phil Dennis as well as Dylan McDonagh and Megan Nicholls – went on to take out their apprentice licences. Since then Megan has enjoyed her first professional winning ride at Wolverhampton at the end of February for James Eustace.
Once again this series has provided a launching pad for the careers of young amateurs who often struggle to get rides through lack of opportunity. Thanks to the generosity of Betfair’s sponsorship, 2015 sees the series continue with 8 races offering race riding opportunities combined with education and training and for this we are extremely grateful.”