RACING: The minimum riding weight to be carried in Irish Flat racing is likely to be raised by 2lb in time for the 2004 season.
The move is predicted to be confirmed by a new Safety Review Group that was announced by the Turf Club yesterday.
The new nine-man group, which includes trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Conor O'Dwyer, will encourage submissions from all sections of racing and will report to the Turf Club stewards by February 28th.
The group has been set up in the aftermath of a dark period for the sport in Ireland with the deaths of jump jockey Kieran Kelly at Kilbeggan in August and the flat apprentice Seán Cleary at Galway less than three months later.
The deaths were the first to occur on Irish racecourses for 18 years and the new group's brief is to review all aspects of racing safety. One area that will be looked at is the minimum riding weights for both flat and National Hunt racing. No change is likely over the jumps but the Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said yesterday a change is probable on the Flat.
"On the Flat it is practically certain the weights will go up and I would estimate the minimum could rise by something like 2lb. It is especially relevant to those at apprentice level where claims can be used and so the group will meet representatives of RACE, the apprentice school, and the jockeys' association. The reason the report will be in place by February is so that changes can be put in place in time for the Flat season ," Egan said.
The current minimum weight on the flat is 7st-7lb but claiming apprentices can often face a struggle to make an even lighter weight. It is a system that has been criticised in some quarters recently and the problems facing jockeys was highlighted when the former champion Johnny Murtagh had to end the 2003 season prematurely due to persistent weights difficulties.
Egan added: "That may mean looking at the suitability of certain types of races for certain types of tracks. For example should inexperienced two year olds be asked to race around two bends? Or what about races where there are a whole load of young lads riding, like in auction races."
The Chairman of the new Group is Ivo O'Sullivan and he will also be joined by the Galway manager John Moloney, neurosurgeon Jack Phillips, the Turf Club doctor, Walter Halley, the senior course clerk, Joe Collins, and Egan and Seán Barry from the Turf Club.
The Gold Cup winning rider Conor O'Dwyer said: "Safetywise, nothing sticks out that needs serious attention as far as I can see. But it is great that something is being put in place that will keep things in check."
n Off-course betting tax remains unchanged at two per cent after the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, decided to leave well enough alone in yesterday's Budget.
However, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) intends to raise a one per cent levy on racecourse betting from the beginning of next month.
