Jockeys keen for one-meeting restriction to become a permanent 'game changer'

Jack Mitchell has joined growing calls for the current limit on jockeys riding at one meeting a day to remain in place for good.

The rider, who has set his sights on 100 winners this year after his first four-timer at Salisbury on Saturday, said his view was shared by the majority of fellow jockeys.

Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Paul Struthers on Monday described the early signs of the current one-meeting policy as "hugely beneficial".

The one-meeting restriction was brought in by the BHA in consultation with its chief medical adviser Dr Jerry Hill to comply with keeping travel to a minimum as racing returned from shutdown.

This temporarily tightened a previous rule that jockeys could ride at no more than nine meetings a week, which was introduced after decades of riders rushing between two or even three meetings a day to fulfil commitments.

"I think it's great and would vote to keep it," said Mitchell as he started a two-day suspension on Monday which has halted his golden run since racing restarted on June 1.

"The majority feeling in the weighing room is to keep it. It creates more opportunities, there's less travelling and it's less stressful, as before you would go to the start on your last ride thinking about getting to the next meeting and driving like a lunatic.

"It has created more opportunities. Salisbury on Saturday was a good example as I got great rides for trainers Richard Hannon and Charlie Hills that I wouldn't usually get - their retained riders were at the bigger meetings."

PJA chief executive Paul Struthers: “Jockeys less tired and healthier will be riding better – it is the full package.'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Struthers admitted more races on each card - up to ten races on some days - helped the positive feedback, and hoped this would be another feature retained.

“Early signs are the one-meeting policy is hugely beneficial," said Struthers. "With mental health and wellbeing a major issue for years, and in the spotlight even more recently, it could be a game changer.

“Jockeys less tired and healthier will be riding better – it is the full package.

“We've yet to have a jockey call and say, ‘When can you get rid of the restriction?’ But we have had lots of jockeys ringing to ask how we can keep the one-meeting rule.

“There's no sign the restriction will be ending soon and we'll be sending out a questionnaire and survey around riding at one meeting a day.”

The BHA said it would be reviewing its resumption of racing rules as and when the sport returned to full service.

Robin Mounsey, the BHA's head of media, said: "We’ve obviously learned a lot from the unique circumstances we’ve been operating in and would expect that some of the things we have learned can be used to bring about further improvements across various areas of the sport."

Gussy Mac (near) won the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown under Jack MitchellCredit: Francesca Altoft (Getty Images)

Despite the near 11-week shutdown and resumption restrictions, Mitchell, who finished second on Torquator Tasso in the Deutsches Derby on Sunday, is nearly halfway to his big target, having made the most of the first six weeks of the turf season with 25 winners.

He said: "The first month back was the busiest in my riding career with 90-odd rides. I've started with a bang, with my agent Steve Croft doing a great job.

"Riding for the people I ride for is a big help, with Roger [Varian] being a massive part of my career all the way through, and Simon and Ed Crisford, Hugo Palmer, Tom Clover and Chris Wall all having their horses in great form."

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