Unlike other sports, where there tends to be an ‘end date’ to a career, jockeys determine their own. Unless they suffer a career-ending injury, jockeys can often work well into their 40s. The VJA provides expertise therefore in the space of career transition. “Whether jockeys have unfortunately had their career cut short or are looking to retire, we are there to guide them,” said Hyland. “The career of a jockey also starts very young, so many have not known anything else before the racing industry. We help them with new opportunities and continue to check in on them for as long as is needed.”
Superannuation, the Voluntary Savings Fund and a career benefit scheme are all means set up to support jockeys financially upon retirement. The VJA also has a relationship with the National Jockeys Trust, a charity organisation dedicated to raising funds for the injured or ill jockeys. “We work closely with the NJT, especially for older cases where there was no superannuation.”
Health and wellbeing is a major component of the VJA’s support, with a sports doctor and sports psychologist provided for all jockeys. The Jockey Assistance Program is a free confidential service offered to riders and their immediate families, and benefits riders past and present. “Our sports psychologist Lisa Stevens has great expertise. She has access to a big range of professionals that she can direct jockeys to if they are in need.” The sporting environment hasn’t always been conducive to encouraging openness when it comes to mental health, but this is now changing as a more open dialogue builds a culture of empathy and respect.
“Our members are a great group that really stick together,” said Hyland. “We are always 100 percent united and our association sees every single one of them on equal footing. We can’t control their opportunities, but we can control the service we give them.”