No word on whether NZ jockeys will seek increase

THE New Zealand Jockeys’ Association is staying tightlipped on whether it will seek pay increases in its next collective bargaining agreement.

What pay a jockey should receive for a race mount is a hot topic in racing in Australia where Victorian racing officials are in a standoff with the state jockeys’ association.

A war of words is being battled out in the Australian media, fuelled by comments from leading trainers Victorian trainers that the jockeys do not deserve a pay increase.

The Victorian Jockeys’ Association is seeking a substantial increase to the $200 riding fee jockeys are paid in its next collective bargaining agreement.

The organisation’s agreement with Racing Victoria expires today.

Melbourne trainer Mick Price said in a television interview jockeys should find another job if they did not like their current terms.

‘‘I don’t think the industry can afford to pay them any more. If they don’t like it, they can go and get another job.

‘‘I don’t begrudge them one cent of what they do earn because they have a shortened career.

‘‘Now whilst they deserve what money they’re making at the moment, they do not deserve one cent more.’’

Fellow Melbourne trainer Wayne Hawkes also criticised the call for a pay increase for jockeys on television

‘‘They’re doing pretty good . . . go and look at the jockeys’ car park and look at everyone else’s car park at the races.

‘‘These people are getting paid a lot of money for what they do.’’

Highprofile jockey Michelle Payne slammed those comments on Twitter.

‘‘Came from a man who’s never been hungry or dehydrated in his life. Jockeys risk their lives for these trainers every day, have some respect.’’

Fellow Victorian jockey Stephen Baster said there was a large amount of unpaid work jockeys did in the hope of getting rides.

Being a jockey meant outlaying for big expenses, Baster told AAP.

‘‘I would say I pay anywhere between $5000 to $6000 on gear a year,’’ Baster said.

‘‘I travel 50,000km a year, and I don’t go to all the meetings like a lot of the others.

‘‘That’s 1000km a week, averaging two tanks of petrol, so that adds up and then there’s insurance, which is very expensive.’’

New Zealand Jockeys’ Association president Dave Taylor said his organisation’s agreement with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing would expire in 12 months.

‘‘We are happy at the moment. We have got a review planned, coming up later this year.’’

Taylor confirmed New Zealand riding fees would be part of that discussion.

He would not elaborate on whether his organisation would seek an increase.

‘‘We are working for what we have agreed to.

‘‘I am not saying we are ecstatic about what we have got, but we have agreed to that and we will go into negotiations at the end of the year, just like they have done overseas.’’

New Zealand jockeys are paid $140 plus GST for flat race rides.