BHA hopes for 'constructive conversation' in weights meeting with jockeys

A meeting this week between officials at the BHA, the Professional Jockeys Association and several current jockeys, is designed to offer the weighing room a chance to air their grievances over the decision to replace the temporary 3lb Covid weight allowance.

The change, announced last week, also included a permanent 2lb rise in the weight scale for all Flat and jump jockeys.

Chief operating officer Richard Wayman will use the meeting to make clear the reasons for implementing the change as well as giving more detail to what it will entail.

But the authority also views it as an opportunity for jockeys "to raise any additional considerations that weren't highlighted during the consultation process".

When announcing the change last week the BHA pointed to a need for a return to greater transparency about how much weight horses actually carry.

There was also concern voiced by some trainers at additional burden for horses caused by the allowance since its introduction when racing resumed in 2020 after the coronavirus shutdown.

The National Trainers Federation will be represented at the meeting.

But there was widespread dismay among jockeys, many of whom believed that the allowance might be made permanent in return for not having weighing room saunas reintroduced.

Richard Wayman: 'the meeting will provide jockeys with the opportunity to raise any additional considerations'

Wayman said on Sunday: "We fully appreciate the significance to jockeys of any decisions that impact race weights, and so it is our intention to meet the PJA, a small number of jockeys, and the NTF in the coming days to discuss the decision to replace the temporary 3lb Covid allowance with a permanent 2lb increase in race weights.

"As well as reiterating the various factors that were taken into account by the industry’s Racing Group when agreeing that decision, the meeting will provide jockeys with the opportunity to raise any additional considerations that, for whatever reason, weren't highlighted during the consultation process in October and November.

"Following what I am sure will be a constructive conversation, we will then take a view on the most appropriate next steps."

PJA interim chief executive Dale Gibson admitted last week that the consultation and decision-making process around the 2lb rise had occurred during a time of transition for the association as he took over from Paul Struthers.

But Gibson insisted the association was "not aware" that the 3lb allowance was only meant to be temporary.

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