Racing News and previewThe results of dehydration tests taken on 18 jockeys riding at the Curragh last Saturday have been described as "alarming" by a Turf Club spokesman and feature in a report issued yesterday that raises "major health issues" in the sport.
The preliminary results of a study by the National Coaching and Training Centre at Limerick University have confirmed there are major health issues affecting jockeys in this country which are directly related to the weight structures within racing.
As a result, the Turf Club are about to begin a major consultative process with various interest groups within the industry with a view to increasing the minimum weights by the start of the next jumps and flat seasons in 2006.
"It's too early yet to quantify the figures but the recommendation is that the increase would be significant," said the Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan yesterday.
The minimum weight on the flat in Ireland currently is 51 kilograms (eight stone).
The study was commissioned as part of the Turf Club's safety review group in June 2004. That group was formed after the tragic deaths of both Kieran Kelly and Seán Cleary in 2003.
Concerns that dehydration due to wasting can contribute to serious head injures won't have been eased by the evidence at the Curragh at the weekend when tests were carried out on jockeys.
"The results were very, very worrying," the Turf Club's medical officer, Dr Walter Halley, said yesterday. "It was a very warm day but, even so, what we found was alarming."
Denis Egan spoke with similar concern and said: "Eighteen jockeys voluntarily took the test and 14 of the 18 were severely dehydrated at some stage of the day. The levels were frightening."
The NCTC's study has looked at 27 jockeys, 17 from the flat and 10 over jumps, as they look at the impact of wasting in terms of dehydration, bone density and body fat levels.
The preliminary results have been presented to the Turf Club stewards and they have requested that a consultative process be set up immediately with the likes of Horse Racing Ireland, the Jockeys Association and the Trainers Association.
That would look at the issue of raising the minimum weights, an education programme into dieting control and the possibility of an annual screening programme for jockeys.
"It's ground-breaking stuff and the whole of Europe, and indeed further afield, are very interested in this research project," Halley said.
Meanwhile Ireland's top juvenile of 2004 Ad Valorem will try to secure a first Group One victory of 2005 when he runs in Sunday's Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.
Last year's Middle Park Stakes winner had the first run of his three-year-old career when finishing a creditable three-length runner-up to Shamardal in the St James's Palace Stakes at York earlier this month.
Yesterday his trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed: "At the moment the plan is to go to France."
A total of 10 horses remain in the mile Group One prize including the Brian Meehan-trained Rebuttal and the French Derby third Rocamadour.
The in-form Kieren Fallon, who notched up eight winners over the Curragh last weekend, goes to Tipperary this evening where he has a number of decent winning chances.
The Danehill newcomer Dylan Thomas makes his debut in the opener while another Ballydoyle runner, Queen Titi, has a 94 rating that should be good enough in the fillies maiden.
Fallon teams up again with the veteran One Won One for the seven-furlong handicap and the 11-year-old should prefer the trip to the six furlongs of the Scurrys on Sunday when well behind the winner, Miss Sally.
Niall McCullagh goes to Bellewstown instead and he could have a big chance in the Auction Maiden on the Montjeu filly Gane Cathriona.
This one started a 7 to 1 shot for her debut behind Ambika at Leopardstown, the race that threw up last Friday's Listed winner at the Curragh.
