The Turf Club announced yesterday that the minimum riding weight for flat racing has been raised by 4lb and the change will be in place in time for the start of the 2006 season. It brings the minimum weight to 8st 4lb.
The move is in response to a survey carried out on jockey body weights carried out by the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick University which highlighted problems in regard to dehydration, bone density and nutrition.
"It is very important to act on the results of the Body Weights Study as our primary concern is the health and welfare of jockeys," said the Turf Club senior steward Pierce Molony yesterday.
"We are confident the increase will greatly assist this."
Other recommendations in conjunction with the weights rise include a mandatory education programme at the apprentice centre (Race) to provide support in regard to healthy eating and balanced diets.
"There will be no random testing for dehydration but we are hoping this education programme will help our jockeys," said the Turf Club's chief executive Denis Egan.
"Attendance at the course will be voluntary in 2006 but compulsory in 2007. We are delighted that the Jockeys Association fully supports the move."
No decision has been made on whether or not a rise at the top end of the weights scale will occur in response to yesterday's announcement.
"Whether the weights will go up to 10.4 from 10st or stay as they are has yet to be thrashed out," Egan added.
Other Turf Club recommendations are that a professional dietician be available to jockeys and that more appropriate food be made available at all racecourse canteens.
The minimum weight in conditions race, except in certain circumstances, is also recommended to be no lower than 8.11.
Submissions were received by the Turf Club from the Jockeys Association, the Trainers Association and the Racecourse Medical Officers Association before yesterday's report.
Meanwhile, the former champion flat jockey John Murtagh will have another crack at winning a Grade One race over jumps when Golden Cross takes his chance in Sunday's AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle.
Murtagh and Golden Cross were only just beaten in last month's Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse and Sunday's race will determine if the horse follows the Champion Hurdle or World Hurdle route to Cheltenham.
"He is working well and is generally in good form. Depending on how he runs we will decide about a festival target," reported trainer Michael Halford yesterday.
"We've been thinking of upping him in trip but he missed an engagement as his scope was not 100 per cent. Sunday is a good chance to see if he has the speed for two miles or if we go up to three miles," Halford added.
The Grade One winning novice Travino looks like missing out on a planned pre-festival trip to Cheltenham and run instead in the Walls Golden Cygnet Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Trainer Mags Mullins is concerned about the probability of fast going at Cheltenham and admitted it looks like the horse will stay at home.
"I would like him to get some experience of Cheltenham but he doesn't want quick ground," she said.
"In the long term he should make a very good chaser."
The meeting scheduled for Plumpton today has been abandoned due to a frozen track.
And yesterday afternoon's meeting at Huntingdon was also abandoned due to a frozen track. .
