Street backs change in British jockeys title

Rod Street, chief executive of Great British Racing, has admitted he isn't surprised that the change to the British Flat jockeys' championship has not been universally welcomed.

It was announced on Monday that the title race will no longer run from Lincoln day at Doncaster in late March to the November Handicap and will be trimmed down.

The new campaign will begin on Qipco 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket on May 2 and end on Champions' Day at Ascot on October 17.

The news has split racing professionals, but Street insists it will raise the profile of jockeys and racing.

The format, he believes, needs a total overhaul due to the bigger number of fixtures now and to tempt more of the leading riders to go for the title and not be put off by the attritional nature of the old system.

"We were expecting there to be some strong opinions about it," he At The Races.

"We've been in discussion with the jockeys for over a year and with the Horsemen and the racecourses (about) how we can better promote the sport and how we can recognise changing times.

"We think the initiative will be good. It will take time and a lot of effort and energy, but the benefits will be really good for the sport.

"It's a big and a broad decision. Crucially, this is the jockeys' championship and we are doing it with their support. It reflects just how much racing has changed in the last few decades and how the fixture list has grown so enormously.

"The seasons have become less relevant, so what we are looking toward is to look at the championships in a clearer way, launch them on a bigger day, at Newmarket for the first Classic of the season, and crown the champions on a day that is rather helpfully called Champions' Day when you've got the nation's eyes, if not the world's eyes, on a great day's racing.

"We want to get jockeys over to a larger audience and we've got lots of ideas on how we are going to do that and make more of our stars.

"For years we've had people bemoan what a damp squib the start of the season can be with the Lincoln taking place before the Grand National, but it makes little difference to the racegoer's experience.

"What we will have is more focus on the jockeys on the big occasion and hopefully make more of them.

"We do hope that over time it will encourage participation. Some leading jockeys have ruled themselves out of the Flat championship because of the extremely arduous nature, racing up and down the motorways and chasing all-weather meetings from March until November.

"Over time with this better promoted system and more of a focus on it, it might get more jockeys to participate and make it tighter and more interesting

"When you've got a championship that has its riders regularly rule themselves out of it, it can't be fit for purpose.

"To win the Flat jockeys' championship you've still got to go to a lot of meetings. By doing what we're doing, we are shaving off the two ends of the season and promoting it through a better launch pad and a real finale."

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, revealed negotiations were ongoing to reward jump jockeys following the new financial incentives for their colleagues on the Flat in the revamped championship.

"Conversations have been taking place, although they are at an early stage," he told At The Races.

"We have very strong views that if you are going to reward Flat jockeys, who earn more than their jump racing counterparts, because there is more racing and the racing is more valuable plus they have the additional opportunities overseas to earn big bucks, I think there should be rewards for jump jockeys for their championship."

Struthers believes jump jockeys do not want to change their championship dates, but is hoping there will be more emphasis on jump racing straight after the conclusion of the Flat title race in October.

"I don't think there is any desire within the jump jockey fraternity for change," he said.

"Jump racing has always been all-year round, it has been a 12-month championship and has its natural conclusion at Sandown at the end of April and now we do have a mini-break that immediately follows that.

"We see no reason why you can't leave the championship for the jumps as it is and simply shift the promotional focus so after Champions' Day you now have Cheltenham racing the following Saturday and shift it to that. We really hope that will happen."