Dr McGoldrick aiming for higher standards

The chief medical officer of the Irish Turf Club, Dr Adrian McGoldrick has overseen many improvements in terms of jockeys’ safety, weight and nutrition since taking over the role in 2008, but believes that there is much yet to do. Speaking on the irishracing.com podcast Talking Horses, McGoldrick gave an insight into his work which unfortunately has seen him extremely busy in recent times and you can listen to the full interview here Link Text Here. He has helped make Ireland a leading player in terms of many aspects of jockeys’ lives and recalls his horror at seeing riders at American tracks using emesis bowls to vomit into as a means to keep their weight down. “I’d read about them but to see them was a real eye-opener for me” said McGoldrick. “Back in Ireland, it was shocking to me that riders were having to make weight at what were ludicrous weights. “The average weight increase of a human is a pound every three years. Racing have not kept up with the demographics of the population. In Ireland, I’ve had absolute support from both the Turf Club and HRI in relation to increasing minimum weights and median weights which are as equally important. The problem is at European level.” The Doc has also had difficulties attempting to find continental consensus on an improved helmet for the riders and has now taken it upon himself to design a prototype which he hopes will get the green light. Meanwhile, he continues to visit and care for the riders that are out of action through injury, as well as those that will never return to the game they love. But he finds inspiration in the likes of John Thomas McNamara, Jonjo Bright and Shane Broderick and hopes their example will get hime through the Jog For Jockeys run which raises considerable amounts of money for the Jockeys Accident Fund and the Qualified Riders Accident Fund. It will take place at the Curragh this year on August 24. The 61-year-old Rathangan native has many more goals for the future yet though. “We have lots of work to do yet. On the flat/national hunt end, I would like to see the nutrition end develop further. Medical facilities on racecourses; we still have a lot of work to do there. “My big challenge is point-to-pointing. When I took over, riders were changing in the back of horse boxes or trailers. In the last four years, we’ve rolled out three mobile first-aid units. These are fully equipped. I need two more. “I would also like to see a Turf Club medical officer at all point-to-points.”