Elite Jockey Programme changing the face of Kiwi apprentices

[Chief Stipe]

Elite Jockey Programme changing the face of Kiwi apprentices

loveracing.nz

The future of New Zealand’s apprentice jockeys has received an exciting boost over the past fortnight, with the announcement of the Elite Jockey Programme (EJP), a comprehensive, high performance-focussed pathway designed to ensure the development, retention and success of our riders.   

While New Zealand has a long and esteemed legacy of producing some of the world’s elite jockeys, there has been a lack of evolution in the training programme for apprentices over the past three decades, from recruitment, to licensing and developing riders through their apprenticeship.

A reflection of this has been demonstrated since 2018, with a low retention rate through to the end of the four-year apprenticeship, placing the industry in a position where a shortage of jockeys is impacting the quality and quantity of races throughout the calendar. 

Over the past two years, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has made a commitment to giving the apprentice programme a complete revamp, researching global structures and working alongside High Performance Sport New Zealand to create the EJP.

“We’ve been looking at this for the past 24 months, after consistent feedback over a long period of time that the apprentice programme wasn’t working,” Amy Johnson, NZTR’s Head of Education, Training and Recruitment said. “We weren’t getting the retention rate at the end of the apprenticeship for what we were putting in, so something had to change.

“When Bruce Sharrock came on board, he was really keen to professionalise the pathway to becoming a jockey to reflect their skills as elite athletes, similar to the transition that was introduced in rugby union. We needed to make the pathway of an apprenticeship and the role of a jockey more attractive.

“Young kids in school have one of nine different jobs that they want to do when they grow up, and being a professional sportsperson is commonly one of those. We wanted to ensure racing was categorised in that light and be considered as a professional sporting career.

“We look at a number of reputable international models, those that were long-standing and could be applied to New Zealand. In saying that, we do have our own individual needs as a country, with a lot of landmass to cover and providing opportunities for people from right across both islands. We weren’t looking to create a centralised training model.

“Bruce connected me with High Performance Sport New Zealand, and they were instrumental in guiding me through the needs of a professional athlete, not only the day to day training environment, but the pathways and support that has to be provided to get to the elite level and perform.

“We put a pathway in place, broken down to talent identification and development, licenced apprentice year 1 and 2, 3^rd year apprentice and a senior rider.”

The EJP will introduce a number of changes to the current model, one of those being the shortening of an apprenticeship from four to three years, similar to that of a university degree or trade. In addition to this, an apprentice ‘mentor’ or employer will receive support from NZTR, covering 50% of the wages for the first year, while the employer will continue to receive 50% of the riding fees and stake money for the full duration of the apprenticeship.

The motivation behind this investment is to promote time away from the workplace to attend jump-outs, trials and race-day, without the flow-on effect this can cause on a business.

“We’ve brought the apprenticeship back to three years as well to create a more appealing career path for a young person, and one that aligns more closely with other apprenticeships and university degrees, by the time they do a probationary period which forms a huge part of the talent identification part of the program , we had a 5 year apprenticeship  which was not attractive” Johnson said.

“Our closest neighbour is Australia, and specifically the Racing Victoria programme is well-revered as shown with the results they are getting. We’ve aligned more to that, they don’t have a centralised academy and still have the on-job training, but they bring them together often and RV pays for that training.

“We’ve gone a step further, because we understand the employers also need support in developing young apprentices. NZTR have put up half of the wages for the first year, to help get the apprentices out and making connections in the workplace.

“We want to change the mindset of being a trackwork rider and apprentice, to being a race-day jockey, by prioritising race-day riding over stable duties. That isn’t to say they aren’t a part of the team, there is still an expectation that they contribute to the workplace, but it just means the focus is on racing and developing in that role.

“Although they are doing on-job work with their trainers and employers, we needed to incorporate a level of consistency for them to see the fruits of their efforts.”

The EJP encourages all prospective jockeys to enter the probationary (Class C) period following an assessment, and if a rider doesn’t get accepted into their first apprentice intake, the opportunity to go back to the trials and try again is on offer.

“We would like to get as many people as possible to get up to the probationary standard, giving them the opportunity to develop their riding skills further than that of just trackwork and give them a taster of what it’s like to enter a jockey’s apprenticeship,” Johnson said.

“They put in an application for the Class C licence, then we bring them in for an assessment/ induction course which includes the knowledge of the rules of racing, an assessment on the mechanical horse, a fitness test and they also riding at the jump-outs. If we’re satisfied with their level, then they are able to ride at the trials.

“The aim of this is to get 30 trial rides in the probationary period, then work towards one of the intakes for the elite jockey program. We have two intakes per year, focussed around the best time for apprentices to get going, which is that autumn-winter period.

“The assessment for an apprentice licence is in-depth and includes Dexa scans for body composition of muscle fat and bones, a session with our performance psychologist, fitness testing, review of races, riding trackwork to specific times and riding at the trials. If they are not successful in obtaining a licence then they can return to riding at the trials, with a performance plan to follow and will have the opportunity to try again at the next intake.

“If it really is a no-go, we can support them into the jumping route, training, or remaining as a trackwork rider, which is great, as they have had more skill development opportunities to contribute to their stable.

“Racing is probably one of the only sports that has professionals competing alongside amateurs in the same field. From a senior jockey’s point of view, we have a duty of care to them to ensure every apprentice is thoroughly assessed for competence, we don’t expect them to have the skill level of a senior as they will be inexperienced and will make mistakes, however we do need to ensure they are capable to be out there.

While only two riders were inducted on this occasion, there will not be a consistent or set figure, with future numbers reliant on the capabilities of the riders being assessed, as well as industry demand. 

“We would look at an average of four apprentices per intake, that is based off licensing numbers in the past, but, it’s really not about numbers on the whole. If we have six capable people, we’ll put six capable people through. If we genuinely think they are ready to go, that’s what we’ll do.”

Once in the program, apprentice jockeys will be supported throughout their three-year term, with industry-funded National Training sessions every eight weeks, as well as regional weekly support. The national training sessions ensure we have consistency in the delivery and outcomes.

“We still have our regional riding coaches who will check in with them every week, and they have access to the high performance sport team via the phone.

The EJP hopes to place an emphasis on the importance of developing the future of New Zealand’s jockey ranks, while also targeting those committed to the programme in its entirety.

“We’ve really ramped up our recruitment drive, the mobile training unit has been attending equestrian events across the country this season. It’s been over the South Island over the latter half of December, January and early-February, and we’ll be continuing the national training days and engagement with the wider equestrian community.

“We are looking for those with the engagement, credentials and intent on becoming a jockey. We want people with the love for the horses, the drive to succeed and develop their skills, and a want to be a part of this wonderful industry. We want to invest in those people”.

As announced by NZTR, Hayley Hassman and Ashlee Strawbridge are the first two apprentices to be accepted into the programme. Each rider has undertaken a probationary period, culminating in consistent trial performances reflective of a jockey ready to enter the pressures of race-day riding.

Hassman took her own route into an apprenticeship, riding successfully in the Amateur Series before plying her trade as a trackwork rider in Australia. Now back in New Zealand with Te Akau Racing, she is enjoying the professionalism of the new structure.

“It’s great, it’s such an eye-opener to racing and I’ve learnt twice as much as I did in the entirety of last year at apprentice school in three days of this programme,” Hassman said. “It’s been pretty cool.

Ashlee Strawbridge. Photo credit: Race Images

“I had 35 trial rides and five amateur rides, as well as spending some time riding in Australia at Cranbourne riding for Griffiths and De Kock over there. I had 10 jump-outs there, so that was a great experience and brought me on a lot as a rider.

“Te Akau have been really good, I get two afternoons off per week so I have plenty of time to go to the gym and prep for performance. They’re very supportive of me riding for other trainers as well, I go to Cambridge each Friday and ride trackwork there to further my connections within the industry.

“They put me on heaps of gallops in the mornings and I get to ride with the senior jockeys that come in, riding with them teaches me a lot. There is plenty of opportunities and there are so many good horses that you learn to get a feel for a good horse.”

[Wingman]

Good to see as the reality is female jockeys are far more dominant in the ranks today. Ten years ago Danielle Johnson was 2nd in the premiership and the only female in the top 8. She went on to win it some years later. 

At the moment Craig Grylls is leading the premiership from Lisa Sutherland and Sam Spratt, then Hashizume followed by Comignaghi.

We are not getting like for like replacing our top end riders, such as Innes, Coleman, Bosson etc and to compound the issue if we do they quickly, like Rory Hutching, move offshore. Lance O'Sullivan said as much this week in the Guerin report that if he was plying his trade as a jockey in todays world it would not be in NZ.