Apprentice Claims Apprentice jockeys may claim an allowance in accordance with the Australian Rules of Racing (AR 92(1)). The allowance reduces the actual weight the horse must carry in the race. It compensates for the apprentice jockey’s relative inexperience compared to the apprentice’s more senior counterparts. The handicapper does not factor in an apprentice’s claim when setting weights.
Rule AR 92
(1) Any apprentice entitled under the Rules to ride in races may claim, in accordance with the following scales, a weight allowance in such races on the flat as the Local Rules of a Principal Racing Authority permit. [amended 30/4/03]
(2) For races run in a Metropolitan Area as defined by the Local Rules of any Principal Racing Authority:
If he has not ridden 20 winners on the flat in a Metropolitan Area - 3kg If he has not ridden 50 winners on the flat in a Metropolitan Area - 2kg If has not ridden 80 winners on the flat in a Metropolitan Area - 1.5kg Provided that for the purposes of this rule a winning ride in a Group Race, Listed Race or Restricted Listed Race shall be deemed to be a winning ride in a Metropolitan area. [proviso added 1/1/99] Further provided that no apprentice jockey may claim a weight allowance in any Group Race, Listed Race or Restricted Listed Race.
Further provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of subrules (2), (3) and (4), an apprentice may claim a weight allowance of 4 kilograms until he has ridden 5 winners on the flat; on condition that a Principal Racing Authority may except its territory from the application of this further proviso [Further provisos 1/1/99, 1/8/05] [amended 30/4/03, 1/8/07, 1/8/16]
(3) For races run in a Provincial Area as defined by the Local Rules of any Principal Racing Authority:
If he has not ridden 20 winners on the flat in a Metropolitan Area and/or a Provincial Area - 3kg If he has not ridden 50 winners on the flat in a Metropolitan Area and/or a Provincial Area - 2kg If he has not ridden 80 winners on the flat in a Metropolitan Area and/or a Provincial Area - 1.5kg [amended 30/4/03]
(4) For races run other than in a Metropolitan Area or a Provincial Area:
If he has not ridden 20 winners on the flat - 3kg If he has not ridden 50 winners on the flat - 2kg If he has not ridden 80 winners on the flat - 1.5kg
(5) No apprentice may claim a weight allowance outside the Metropolitan Area greater than the allowance he is entitled to claim within the Metropolitan Area.
(6) An apprentice may claim during a race meeting the same allowance to which he was entitled when the acceptances for that race meeting officially closed. [deleted and replaced 1/8/11]
(7) No horse shall have its weight reduced below 43.5kg by reason of any allowance.
(8) For the purposes of calculating the weight allowance for an apprentice all dead-heats for first place shall count as winning mounts.
(9) All winning mounts ridden by an apprentice on the flat before his apprenticeship shall be included as winning mounts.
(10) A winning rides book shall be issued to every apprentice, and it shall be the responsibility of the apprentice and his master to ensure that it is in the possession of the apprentice at every race meeting he attends, and that winning mounts are entered in his winning rides book and endorsed by a steward before the apprentice leaves the racecourse on any day on which he has ridden a winner or winners
(11) No apprentice shall claim an allowance to which he is not entitled and any horse that has been ridden in a race by an apprentice whose weight in the race has been adjusted by an allowance to which he is not entitled may be disqualified for the race.
(12) Except with the permission of the Stewards, every apprentice must claim his full allowance, and any apprentice who fails to do so commits an offence and may be may be stood down for such ride.
(13) [a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this sub-rule winning rides in flat races held outside Australia shall be regarded for the purpose of this rule as winning rides in an Australian Metropolitan area.
(b) Winning rides in flat races held at New Zealand Premier meetings (as defined by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (Inc)) shall be regarded for the purposes of this rule as winning rides in a Metropolitan area, and winning rides in flat races at all other New Zealand meetings shall be regarded as winning rides in a Provincial Area, provided that for purposes of this rule a winning ride in a Group or Listed race at any race meeting in New Zealand shall be deemed a winning ride in a Metropolitan area. [sub-rule (13) added 30/6/03; deleted and replaced 1/2/11, amended 11/4/12]
(14) Any apprentice and/or his master may be penalised for any breach of this rule and any person concurring in or conniving at such breach may also be penalised.
AR 36A
Except where the Principal Racing Authority otherwise determines, a race meeting conducted by a Club on a racecourse other than that on which the Club usually conducts its race meetings, shall be deemed to be a race meeting of the same status as the race meeting would have had but for the transfer of venue. ladded 1/8/98: amended 30/4/03]