Cover image courtesy of Clinton McDonald Racing
Just a day after star jockeys Mark Zahra and Craig Williams urged for a quick resolution to the ongoing pay dispute involving the Australian Trainers' Association and the Victorian Jockeys' Association, trainer Clinton McDonald shared his thoughts on Melbourne Radio this morning.
“I think at the end of the day we all do something for the industry,” McDonald told RSN.
“The jockeys come down, it’s like doing a quote for a plumbing business or a building business, they come down and ride.”
“The jockeys come down (to the jump-outs), it’s like doing a quote for a plumbing business or a building business, they come down and ride.” - Clinton McDonald
McDonald felt that offering payment to jockeys for jump-outs could potentially harm the career trajectories of those who are not among the elite.
“I think if they do bring it in it (payments for jump-outs), it is going to affect the jockeys below the top 20 because when they come and trial a horse, normally they will get the ride but now owners and trainers can say, well we paid you the money so we don’t have to give you the ride,” he said.
“It could be an effect that goes down the chain. The top 10, top 15 jockeys don’t need the money I can assure you but it is the ones underneath that need the rides.
“You’re giving trainers and owners an out and saying, well Adam McCabe who rides for me, we’ve paid you your thirty or forty dollars, we want to put Ben Melham, Mark Zahra or Damien Lane on.
Jockeys | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“There’s no obligation to give them the ride now. I feel the ‘B grade’ jockeys will be riding the jump-outs for the $30 or $40 and there will be no obligation to give them a ride.”
Trainers are already under enough financial pressure, according to McDonald.
“Where does it stop in paying, for trainers?” McDonald said.
“We’re like money lenders. The jockeys want us to be billed, and we’ve got to bill out our 5 per cent owners, our 2.5 per cent owners and wait for that money to come in. As we know, there are more trainers going broke than jockeys, that’s for sure. Our biggest thing is cash flow in this business. Obviously, things are tough at the moment and people are slower at paying. It’s a chain effect, it affects everyone. I think the jockeys are very well paid… Where does it stop for the jockeys.”
“Where does it stop in paying, for trainers? We’re like money lenders. It’s a chain effect, it affects everyone. I think the jockeys are very well paid… Where does it stop for the jockeys.” - Clinton McDonald
Jockeys respond to McDonald's comments
These comments sent social media into meltdown with a number of high-profile participants responding to McDonald’s controversial views. Senior Melbourne jockey Daniel Stackhouse and fellow jockey and partner Tatum Bull were shocked and confused by McDonald’s comments.
“What Clinton was saying didn’t make a lot of sense to be honest,” Stackhouse said.
“First of all, a plumber may give a quote, but they don’t actually do any work for free! Second of all, jockeys jump-out horses all the time and then get taken off them or you don’t get the option to ride them.
“First of all, a plumber may give a quote, but they don’t actually do any work for free! Second of all, jockeys jump-out horses all the time and then get taken off them or you don’t get the option to ride them.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“Clinton often has jockeys ride jump-outs and then puts whoever he likes on.
“I jump-out a lot of horses and half of them I don’t get to ride race day. It just doesn’t work out or owners don’t want you on.
“You should be getting paid for your work, whether you are a top-tier jockey or in the bottom 10, you’re still doing a job and you should be paid for it.
“You should be getting paid for your work, whether you are a top-tier jockey or in the bottom 10, you’re still doing a job and you should be paid for it.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“People forget, jump-outs are a lot more taxing now because they are every single day and then you have to go to the races. There is also time away from family, you also have fuel and tolls are through the roof. It would be nice just to have something contributed.
“It’s very frustrating. My partner Tatum Bull has just come out of her apprenticeship, and she does a handful of jump-outs and struggles to get race rides, but she can still make an earn by going to the jump-outs if you get paid for them.”
Daniel Stackhouse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
All jockeys deserve to be paid
Although Stackhouse may not be considered among the top tier in the sport, he had a more than commendable last season, recording 115 victories, with 46 wins at metropolitan level and five at Group level. In contrast, his partner, Tatum Bull, faces a more challenging situation.
Bull recorded 24 wins last season and in the month of December was involved in 22 jump-outs at Mornington, Pakenham, and Balnarring, unfortunately earning nothing, while her total race day rides amounted to just 16.
Tatum Bull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“All jockeys should be equal,” Bull said.
“We are out there doing the same job. Whether you are Jamie Kah or you’re me. We are both risking our lives and to be fair you don’t see these Group 1 jockeys at the jump-outs, you see jockeys like me there at the end of the day doing the 2-year-old jump-outs that no one wants to do.
“All jockeys should be equal... you don’t see these Group 1 jockeys at the jump-outs, you see jockeys like me there at the end of the day doing the 2-year-old jump-outs that no one wants to do.” - Tatum Bull
“There are people who have used me in jump-outs and even though I’ve felt like I should have been put on, on race day they haven’t put me on. I haven’t got paid and I haven’t got anything out of it even though I’ve done all the work. I know that is part of the industry, but I just think it is absolute crap I don’t get any reward for my work.”
Call for collaboration
While frustrated, Stackhouse doesn’t want this pay dispute to turn jockeys and trainers against each other but insists that all racing participants need to work together to come to a timely resolution.
“It’s not jockeys versus trainers,” Stackhouse said.
“We should be working together to try and get the best outcome for everyone involved. I think the RVL (Racing Victoria) should be putting their foot down to make a decision and work out a resolution because right now it is costing jockeys, owners and trainers.
“It’s not jockeys versus trainers. I think the RVL (Racing Victoria) should be putting their foot down to make a decision and work out a resolution because right now it is costing jockeys, owners and trainers.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“Owners and trainers are getting something out of it. Obviously, the horses are getting the fitness and experience, and the jockeys are providing an opinion, and that’s what everybody wants at the end of the day. Everyone wants their horses to be prepared properly.
“It’s very frustrating for something so little. The Jockey’s Association is contributing something and RVL said they will match that so; it’s $30 that is coming onto the bill each jump-out. They are happy to pay $15 per jump-out right now for a race caller that is sitting in a box.”
Matt Hyland | Image courtesy of Victorian Jockeys Association
Furthermore, Victorian Jockey Association Chief Executive Matt Hyland indicated that the increased cost to owners would be extremely small; in essence as little as $5 per 5 per cent share in a horse.
“The average horse in training has 2.7 jump-outs per preparation so what we're arguing over is less than $100 per horse per preparation,” he said.
“The average horse in training has 2.7 jump-outs per preparation so what we're arguing over is less than $100 per horse per preparation.” - Matt Hyland
