28-01-2011
An important reminder to all amateur jockeys, and especially to point-to-point jockeys who are enjoying the newly launched PPA sponsorship scheme and are considering riding in Hunterchases, that in order to wear sponsors’ logos under Rules it is necessary to register a separate sponsorship agreement with Weatherbys.
All contracts sent to Weatherbys must be accompanied by a cheque made payable to the AJA for £250 or the contract will not be registered.
If you have any queries or need assistance with amateur jockeys’ sponsorship, please call John Bevis on 01933 440077 or e-mail jbevis@weatherbys.co.uk.
Many thanks and good luck this season!
22-01-2011
Many thanks to Folkestone Racecourse for adding a ladies flat race to feature on their Ladies Day on 6th June. Management also hope to add a men’s race later in the season. Watch this space.
20-01-2011
Last weekend saw the start of the Fegentri season for the ladies with RACHEL KING representing Great Britain in Siracuse. Rachel is based in Wiltshire and has ridden winners under all codes. She finished 5th on Sunday and now looks forward to Qatar in February. Rachel’s biggest flat winner to date is the Queen Mother’s Cup at York which she won for Pat Eddery in 2010.
Qatar are very generously including gentlemen riders in their invitation for racing in February and our gentleman representative for 2011 will be NICO DE BOINVILLE. Nico is attached to Nicky Henderson’s yard and recently played a starring role alongside AP McCoy promoting Austin Reed at Newbury Racecourse!
15-01-2011
Many congratulations to Sam Waley-Cohen on his great success today at Kempton when Long Run gave him such a thrilling winning ride in the King George, thus denying Kauto Star a historic fifth victory.
This is a huge win for an amateur being a Grade One race and the last time such a prestigious race was won by an amateur jockey was over 20 years ago when Marcus Armytage won the Grand National for Kim Bailey with Mr Frisk in 1990. To find a race with level weights, you have to go back even further to when Jim Wilson won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Little Owl back in 1981!
The ecstatic jockey said “That was amazing. He got into a rhythm and picked up – he showed real courage. He’s a phenomenal horse and I’m so pleased he’s shown what he’s capable of. It’s a massive honour to be here and I want to thank Dad, Nicky and all the guys at Seven Barrows.”
This is the biggest staying chase win of Nicky Henderson’s training career to date.
20-12-2010
Many congratulations to AP McCoy on winning Sports Personality of the Year by a distance!
A fantastic result for everyone in racing and not least for the most worthy of recipients.
15-12-2010
The Amateur Jockeys Association held their AGM on 14th December when Gay Kindersley announced his retirement after over 50 years firstly as President of The Amateur Riders Association of Great Britain and then, upon its merger with the Lady Jockeys Association in 1995, President of The Amateur Jockeys Association of Great Britain.
Gay Kindersley is now appointed Honorary President of the AJA and will retain his strong links with the Association.
Dr Philip Pritchard was welcomed as the AJA’s new President with Bill Shand Kydd remaining as Vice President.
14-12-2010
Well done to Russell Lindsay who won this afternoon’s first race at Catterick, the amateur hurdle, when making his racecourse debut appearance.
Riding SAMBELUCKY he held the horse up in the rear before making steady headway, tracking the leaders from 3 out to stay on well and be first past the post by a neck from What’s Occurrin.
Russell is aged 18 and joined trainer Keith Reveley in the summer. The trainer said “We had at least two feet of snow but we were able to canter on it, although only slowly. Russell is from Hawick and he’s done plenty of riding and hunting. He’ll be doing some point-to-pointing and he’ll go to France with my son James in the summer. He’s a good rider.” Sambelucky’s victory was the first of a 4,555-1 treble for Keith Reveley!
Good luck to Russell in keeping his 100% record intact!
11-12-2010
WOOLCOMBE FOLLY got Paul Nicholls’ day off to the best possible start at Cheltenham this afternoon with a fine performance under Ryan Mahon. The race was always likely to be staged at a blistering gallop with a number of proven front runners and Ryan held his mount up in mid-division, before asking him to get closer after the tenth and challenge the leader Tanks For That at the last, going away to win by 6 lengths.
Ryan said: “That was absolutely awesome. He has got so much speed, but you just need to mind that speed so he’s got something to finish with.”
07-12-2010
FLAT RACING LEGEND HENRY CECIL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DERBY AT CHELTENHAM
St Patrick’s Day Derby in aid of Cancer Research UK to be run at The Festival
Cheltenham Racecourse today announced that multiple Derby-winning trainer Henry Cecil will be the Guest of Honour for the first ever St Patrick’s Day Derby at Cheltenham on Thursday, March 17, 2011. The one mile, five furlong charity flat race, run as the seventh race that day, will raise money for Cancer Research UK, this season’s chosen Festival charity.
Commenting upon his involvement, Cecil said: “I was delighted and honoured to be invited by Cheltenham to get involved in the St Patrick’s Day Derby. I’ve always admired the wonderful sport at The Festival from afar, but this will be my first ever visit to the meeting and I am looking forward to sampling the atmosphere at first hand.
“Cancer is an illness that touches most families at some point and my family is no different, so it will be marvellous to be able to play a small part in helping to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK, a charity which does so much to help the fight against this disease.”
This will be the last time for several years that St Patrick’s Day is on a Festival raceday and the occasion will be marked by a series of events and displays with a uniquely Irish feel. The Cheltenham team is hoping that the special charity race and the presence of Henry Cecil will add further interest to what is already a spectacular day of high-class Jump racing.
The Racecourse’s Managing Director, Edward Gillespie, said: “Henry Cecil’s achievements are the stuff of legend, but what is equally remarkable is his universal popularity amongst the racing fraternity, from racegoers, betting shop punters and casual racing fans to fellow trainers and the sport’s professionals across the globe.
“It is a privilege for us to be welcoming him to The Festival for a Derby of a slightly different nature, especially one that is being run in aid of such a good cause. We hope that Henry’s involvement might even attract entries from Derby-winning trainers!”
Jools Tait, Director of Partnerships of Cancer Research UK, added: “We are thrilled to be involved in this exciting addition to The Festival 2011.
“Last year’s charity race on Ladies Day helped us to raise over £150,000 at Cheltenham and, with the generous support of Henry Cecil, we are hoping to exceed that figure this year.”
Applications are now being invited for the charity race, with a maximum field of 12 runners, open to any amateur riders, licensed or not. Each rider is required to raise a minimum of £5,000 in sponsorship and participants have to provide their own mount, which must have run at least twice under the recognised Rules of Racing. Applications close on December 31, 2010.
For further information about the charity race, or to receive an application form, please contact Sarah Oliver on 01886 884488 or via sph.oliver@btinternet.com
For more information about Cancer Research UK, please contact Davina Yanful on 020 3469 5255 or via davina.yanful@cancer.org.uk
For further information about St. Patrick’s Day activities or any aspect of racing at Cheltenham, please contact Cheltenham’s Communications Manager, Andy Clifton on 07876 330090 or via andy.clifton@thejockeyclub.co.uk
04-12-2010
The finale of the ladies Fegentri season was held today in Mauritius with four lady jockeys going into the race with only 14 points between them: Ruth Jefferson (GB) 151; Pauline Boisgontier (France) 144; Tina Henricksson (Sweden) 143 and Nina Wagner (Germany) 137. Sadly for Ruth she was unplaced today with Tina Henricksson 2nd, handing Tina the Fegentri Ladies World Championship 2010.
Many congratulations to Tina and Sweden on their new status and many congratulations to Ruth who has been a wonderful ambassador for Great Britain and worked hard to keep the runner up slot for us for the third year running, which is a great achievement.
Ruth Jefferson receiving her award from AJA Patron HRH The Princess Royal in Mauritius on Saturday
