Impending Threats to Melbourne Cup
Australia’s major Thoroughbred horse racing event is known as Melbourne Cup. When this is scheduled, the event literally “stops the nation.” The race is held in a 3,200 meter race track and it is where three year old thoroughbred horses race next to each other. But things may not be going well for the event this year.
Due to what is seen by many as the government’s obvious lack in committing to the National Jockeys Trust, these same jockeys are threatening to do something against the Melbourne Cup carnival. The jockeys are to meet with the powers that be after the Cox Plate programs where they’re expected to hash out their differences across the table.
The Australian Jockeys Association has already signified that they are giving the government a limited time to invest $5 million in the trust, if not, they are going to file action on it. This same association has been working to get funds for its operations and time appears to be running out. The state and territory racing ministers have given promises but they all failed to deliver. Although the government is being profitable on the Melbourne Cup, estimated at $610 million last year alone, they don’t seem to think it logical to help out the jockeys who make the race possible.
The concern really goes back to those jockeys who’re disabled or die on the racetrack. The jockeys who die or those who can no longer work out of disability do not get support from the government. Part of the appeal of the Australian Jockeys Association is to reassess the situations of those hapless jockeys.
As of today, there are 840 professional jockeys in Australia and among them, there are eighty% of them who earn below $50,000 a year. The Australian Jockeys Association just desires to ensure that these underpaid jockeys who risk their lives on the track are well taken care should anything untoward happen to them. They feel that it is time for the government to take stock and imagine the humanitarian reasons behind the call of the association.
If the talks fail, most of the jockeys and their families will handle hardships and this is the point that the association wants the government to see. Should the talks fail, not only will the issues of the jockeys not be addressed, but the Melbourne Cup can go on a standstill until the government does something rational and humane.
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