Sports Law
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Lawyers for the Jockeys Association are working on new contracts that will mean riders will be paid for the use of their image for the first time.
The association has been working on draft image-rights agreements for a number of months and the idea is set to be made public later this year. "It's about changing the whole culture," said the JA's chief executive, Josh Apiafi.
Most jockeys get by on £144 per race. Typically, once race fees, agents' payments, taxes and expenses have been taken into account, a trip to a meet for only one ride will earn a jockey a net wage of £6. Only with multiple rides on a day does it become worthwhile, and careers can be short: Flat jockeys often retire at the age of 33, jump riders at 30.
Tony McCoy and Timmy Murphy are the only jump jockeys earning significant retainers – the former with JP McManus, the latter with David Johnson. But, unlike players in sports such as football, rugby and cricket, they receive nothing from the use of their image in advertising billboards or on television commercials.
Jockeys are also set to receive better promotion and the sport is willing to remunerate them properly for media appearances they currently eschew in favour of the 2.15 at Uttoxeter.