Weighing rooms labelled 'inadequate' and 'discriminatory' for female jockeys as majority of British courses fail to update facilities

The Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) has said its female members are experiencing "inadequate safeguarding and discriminatory facilities" after it was revealed only 12 of Britain's racecourses met the original deadline for providing minimum-standard weighing room facilities.

A long-term programme to improve facilities was announced in November 2021 following the work of a cross-industry group of jockeys, tracks and the BHA. An immediate priority was the provision of private changing and shower facilities, particularly for under-18s but open to any rider, and this work was completed on schedule by the following February. 

It was hoped the remainder of more comprehensive upgrades, such as additional private changing and shower facilities, shared communal rest, food provision and warm-up areas for jockeys and a new communal working space for valets would be introduced on a phased basis by October 2024 but the majority of tracks have missed this target, much to the frustration of the PJA.

Leicester was the first course to open a fully approved weighing room in December 2023 and since then a further 11 tracks have completed their own development work. The remainder are at different stages, with some having started construction and others going through the approvals process, overseen by a cross-industry group.

Leicester: opened its new weighing room in December 2023Credit: Edward Whitaker

Due to the scale and cost of the renovations required by some tracks, deadlines were altered in February. All racecourses were required to submit plans for approval by October. This new deadline was met by all but two tracks where the weighing room requires a complete rebuild. 

It is expected that 37 of Britain's 59 tracks will have completed the necessary upgrades by the end of 2027. In the meantime, racecourses have been required to put in place interim measures to provide equal access for male and female jockeys, which is being audited by the BHA.

“When this project was first announced in November 2021 it was to be completed by October of this year," said PJA chief executive Paul Struthers. "Earlier this year and despite the PJA’s objections, the deadline was moved back to December 2027 and the PJA is extremely disappointed that only 12 racecourses upgraded their facilities before the original October 2024 deadline.

“Those courses that have completed their works deserve praise, particularly small independent racecourses such as Fakenham, Leicester, Pontefract, Ripon and Taunton, whilst Salisbury will have completed their works in time for the start of their 2025 season. Worcester, Southwell, Warwick and one of the Newmarket courses have also done an excellent job.

“We do understand that this project comes at a cost, but the reality is that for far too long at too many courses our female members have had to tolerate inadequate safeguarding and discriminatory facilities. It's completely unacceptable that they are still required to enter the male changing room at the majority of racecourses in order to do their job."

The PJA has called for more urgent action, and Struthers added: "This whole process has been immensely frustrating but at least the BHA are now taking seriously the complaints and concerns that we have been raising with them for the last 12 to 18 months. They must ensure that racecourses do the same, the timescales are sped up and interim measures are implemented as soon as possible."

Paul Struthers: chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA)Credit: Edward Whitaker

When asked about how the project to modernise weighing rooms was progressing, the BHA expressed its disappointment more progress had not been made but acknowledged the original deadline was too ambitious given the pressures on racecourse finances alongside issues such as securing planning permission, while the debate around saunas is said to have led to some reservations from tracks to remove them. 

"We're disappointed this work hasn't been completed more quickly but we have to acknowledge the financial headwinds facing racecourses and the competing capital investment expectations the industry is placing on them," Brant Dunshea, who will take over as the BHA's acting chief executive in January, told a media briefing on Tuesday.

"We're working collaboratively with racecourses and the Professional Jockeys Association to deliver changes as quickly as possible. It hasn't been straightforward and there have been frustrations on the racecourse and PJA side, which is why interim measures have been put in place that require tracks to provide an equal provision of facilities."

The Racecourse Association (RCA) said the "significant financial headwinds" facing many racecourses were a contributing factor to the deadline changing, and a spokesman said: "The RCA and its members have worked closely with the BHA and PJA throughout the weighing room upgrade project. The work will be completed over three phases, as approved by the BHA, with regular meetings to review and approve plans taking place between all parties. 

"The first phase was to ensure all safeguarding requirements to participants were met, which all racecourses have satisfied. The second phase, which had a deadline of October 31 2024, was for racecourses to submit their plans for approval. 

"All racecourses met this deadline with the exception of two which require a full rebuild of their facilities. The third phase, which has a deadline of December 31 2025, sees further elements of the weighing room added to plans, and we're actively supporting racecourses to meet this target."

On the scale of the changes required, the spokesman added: "Since the start of the project, it has become apparent that the work across all 59 racecourses will involve an investment of more than £40 million. It's accepted that this is an essential programme of development for the sport, however given the significant financial headwinds faced by courses the timelines have been altered to reflect this major factor."

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