JOCKEYS’ SPONSORSHIP
Jockeys’ Sponsorship
1. Introduction
Local Rules of Racing in each State and Territory require licensed persons, permit holders, and officials to obtain the approval of the Principal Racing Authority prior to displaying advertising:
(i)at any time in the mounting yard or while riding in any race;
(ii)during the conduct of any race meeting, official trial or other event related to racing which is open to attendance by the public; or
(iii)at any other times or places as may be prescribed by the Principal Racing Authority.
This documents sets out a number of conditions which, if met, may form the basis of a decision by a Principal Racing Authority to grant approval to a sponsorship arrangement involving jockeys.
This document is not binding on Principal Racing Authorities, who retain a discretion to refuse approval, or to grant approval subject to conditions, that is not limited in any way by the contents of this document.
2. Identifying the minimum conditions of a jockeys’ sponsorship arrangement
Set out below is a list of the minimum conditions which, if met by a sponsorship arrangement, could form the basis for an approval by a Principal Racing Authority for jockeys to display advertising:
(a) Mutual Benefit
All sponsorship funds must be applied for the mutual benefit of all jockeys by being contributed to the National Jockey Trust.
The National Jockeys’ Trust is a public charitable trust established in 2004 for the purpose of providing funds and other benefits for the relief of the financial difficulties and needs of jockeys (including apprentice jockeys) and their families, especially where such needs arise through serious injury, illness or death of a jockey. The Trust has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as an income tax exempt charity and as a deductible gift recipient, and has been registered by the charitable organisations licensing agencies in all 8 States and Territories.
(b) Absence of conflict with race club sponsorships.
It is recognised that race club sponsorships provide benefits to the industry as a whole, either through prizemoney distributed to owners, trainers and jockeys, or through financial support to the not-for-profit activities of race clubs to stage race meetings and to otherwise provide facilities for the racing industry’s use. Accordingly, no jockeys’ sponsorship arrangements may be in conflict with or otherwise detrimental to race club sponsorship arrangements;
(c) Appropriate subject matter
Without limitation, the following products or services are not appropriate subjects for a jockeys’ sponsorship arrangement:
- all tobacco products
- pornography
- Betting and gaming activities
(d) Compliance with conditions re branding
A jockeys’ Sponsorship arrangement must comply with the specifications relating to branding opportunities set out in part 3 below
3. Branding opportunities
Jockeys have specific branding opportunities on the following items of their riding equipment:
-Breeches (defined as personal garments worn as part of a jockey’s equipment)
-Clothing (defined as personal garments worn underneath owners’ silks, as part of a jockey’s equipment)
Jockeys’ Breeches
There shall beone branding site available on jockeys’ breeches as follows;
Coccyx site One site, of 10 sq. inches (64 sq. cm), placed on rear of breeches, at base of spine.
Jockeys’ Clothing
There shall be one branding site available on jockeys’ clothing worn underneath owners’ silks (such as roll-neck/polo neck-type-apparel), as follows;
Neck siteOne site. Of 6 sq. inches (38.5 sq. cm), placed on the stock centre front of clothing.
The use of any other clothing or equipment for branding purposes is expressly prohibited. This would include, but not be restricted to, baseball caps, other headgear, clothing, eyewear, etcetera.
4. Riding Interstate
Principal Racing Authorities are especially encouraged to give favourable consideration to sponsorship arrangements that involve an Australia-wide sponsorship of jockeys.
This said, sponsorship permitted by a Principal Racing Authority only extends to race meetings held in that State or Territory. As far as racing in other States or Territories is concerned, any form of advertising on jockeys’ equipment is a matter for the relevant Racing Authority.
Jockeys travelling interstate to take part in races must always carry an unbranded set of riding equipment ie. breeches and clothing, which must be used in the event that the Principal Racing Authority of that State or Territory has not given approval to a sponsorship arrangement.
Australian Racing Board
Annexure A
Extract from Trust Deed of National Jockeys Trust
4PURPOSES OF THE TRUST
4.1Intention
The Founder desires to establish a public charitable trust in Australia to provide financial assistance to relieve the financial needs of Jockeys and their families, especially where caused through serious injury, illness or death of a Jockey.
4.2Principal Purpose
The principal purpose of the Trust is to relieve the immediate and ongoing financial needs of Jockeys and their families in Australia who are in necessitous circumstances especially (but not limited to) necessitous circumstances caused by a Jockey being seriously injured or dying, whether on a racetrack or otherwise, or through a Jockey suffering a severe illness.
4.3Assessment of Necessitous Circumstances
The Trustees will provide such relief and assistance as set out in clause 4.2 to Jockeys or their families in necessitous circumstances after investigating their financial resources and needs. The Trustees will establish forms and processes for assessing necessitous circumstances, which they may amend from time to time. Initially, but without limitation, these forms and processes will include:
(a)Completion of an application for financial assistance which must be endorsed by the relevant Executive of a State or Territory jockeys’ association that is formally affiliated with the AJA. That endorsement must be accompanied by a statutory declaration made by the Chairman or Secretary of that State or Territory jockeys’ association that he or she has made due and diligent enquiries and the person or persons the subject of the application are suffering financial hardship through the injury, illness or death of a Jockey.
(b)This statutory declaration must be accompanied by a certificate from a State or Territory thoroughbred racing control body which is a member of the ARB and stating the period and nature of the Jockeys’ licence issued under the Australian Rules of Racing to the person who, or whose family, is the subject of the application.