P J McDonald© Photo Healy Racing
Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) Flat President PJ McDonald believes there is no need for any UK jockey to get into financial trouble as a result of the current cancellation of racing due to coronavirus.
McDonald, speaking on Paddy Power’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast, stated there is plenty of support available to any jockeys that are under financial strain.
“It has been hard to predict what certain people are earning and what people should be entitled to. It took a while for Paul (Struthers, CEO) and Dale (Gibson) and the team to work out what they could do.
“A paper has gone in and hopefully within the next few weeks we should know what we are going to get financially and at the minute the IJF (Injured Jockeys Fund) and the PJA have put out plenty of information to let people know that if they are struggling or on hard times that the support is there for them. There is no need for them to get into financial trouble.
“Everybody has pulled together and there is as much help as you want if you are struggling.”
McDonald, 38, also reminisced on a circuitous journey to his current position near the top of the Flat jockeys’ tree in the UK.
“I rode on the Flat in Ireland for three years and rode a winner each year. Every time I rode a winner I thought that I’ll get going now but it never really took off.
“A friend of mine, Michael Cleary, was good friends at the time with Ferdy Murphy and said why don’t you go to England and give jumping a try.
“I had learned to ride in jump yards like Padge Berry and point-to-point yards and that is what I was brought up with.
“Luckily enough I clicked with Ferdy and he was the right person for me to meet at that time. I had great respect for him and things took off and I could make a career out of it.”
