Jets Releases Latest Jockey Matters Film
Jockey Employment Training Scheme (JETS), a charity that helps current and former professional jockeys plan for a secure future, has released the final film of its ‘Jockey Matters’ campaign, aimed at apprentices and conditionals that focus on various aspects of jockey welfare.
The series features a number of key subjects for riders including returning to riding after injury, nutrition, mental health and wellbeing.
The latest Jockey Matters film about addiction and recovery features jockey Johnny Murtagh who speaks about his journey to recovery from alcoholism. The film focuses on Johnny’s experiences as a young jockey in Ireland and how he sought help through Alcoholics Anonymous to beat the illness which afflicted him for ten years of his riding career.
Also featured in the film is Joe Carter, former addiction and recovery advisor at Racing Welfare, who outlines the support available for those working in the racing industry and the importance of reaching out for help.
The film was debuted to an audience of 30 apprentices attending the BHA 7lb Claiming Jockeys Seminar at the British Racing School on Thursday and aims to encourage any jockeys who may be struggling with addiction to seek help.
JETS manager, Lisa Delany said: “This is possibly the most powerful film that has been released in the Jockey Matters series so far. Unfortunately, we know there are jockeys out there who are struggling with addiction issues and we are grateful to Johnny for his invaluable input and we hope that this film may help jockeys who relate to what he says in the film.”
Johnny Murtagh commented: “The word ‘alcoholic’ can be a scary word to admit to especially as a young jockey but I encourage anyone who may be struggling to accept they have a problem and seek help. The sooner they do this, the better it will be for them in the long run.”
The Jockey Matters project is produced by JETS in partnership with the PJA. They have been funded from deductions from apprentice and conditional jockey riding fees which is ring-fenced for jockey training.
Paul Struthers, chief executive, PJA added: “We entirely echo Johnny’s comments and are very grateful to him for his powerful and important contribution to the Jockey Matters series. Through our helpline and one-to-one support which we provide through our mental wellbeing partner, cognacity, we can help jockeys struggling with addiction issues and would very much encourage them to get in touch to access that support.”
