Unravelling the jockey’s vest issue

It is good to finally see some movement on the jockey’s protective vest issue but, for any true value to come out of the latest rumblings, things do not only have to move in the right direction, they have to move at a pace that the urgency of the matter requires.

To put the situation in context, it has already been fourteen months since veteran jockey Michael Cahill went on record stating his strong views on the downside of protective vests and calling for change … and he had every reason to know what he was talking about.

Speaking on March 28, 2022, Cahill, who was injured in a fall the previous December in which he suffered a stable fracture of the C4 vertebra and a fractured left shoulder blade, reflected on his situation at the time.

“It has been a difficult time, particularly in the early stages. Because of the fracture to the C4 and also the scapula I had to wear a neck brace and a sling,” explained Cahill.

“It’s a pretty dicey back injury … and there has just been a spate of these injuries. I think there has been about six since I’ve had my injury … Dean Yendall, Luke Currie, Shane Pawsey and there are two or three others. Bobby El-Issa, I think, had the injury before I had my fall and he is still not back riding work as far as I know.

“I put it down to the body protectors we have to wear. Most of the jockeys are of the opinion that these body protectors hold you too rigid in the neck area.

“I obviously can’t speak for everyone, but that is the general feeling amongst jockeys … and we are just hoping that there can be some sort of study to look into it so something can be done to maybe reduce these injuries. There are just too many of them.”

And there are still too many.

In fact, even in the time that has passed since Cahill made those comments more than a year ago the list of riders involved in terms of incidents and injuries has grown to a worrying degree.

Cahill would not claim to be the first to raise the issue … and we now know he is not the last.

On May 15 this year, former champion jockey Shane Dye came out swinging on the jockey vest issue.

“I can’t sit back any longer and let this go on. Someone has to take a stand,” Dye announced on Racenet.

“I’ve got no doubt in my mind that the vest causes more serious head, neck and back injuries because you can’t roll. Ask any jockey, when you fall the thing that protects you is rolling,” emphasized Dye.

Dye had a louder voice on a bigger platform than the quietly spoken Cahill, but the message was the same … and this time there was a reaction from authorities.

It’s a pity though that it took a lot of hype to get their attention when the concerns of many jockeys would have arguably been quite apparent a lot earlier had anybody been paying serious attention.

But movement there is on the issue at last.

Six days ago, Paul Eriksson, the Chief Executive Officer of Racing Australia told punters.com.au that a review into riding vests worn by Australian jockeys had been proposed and that the terms of reference would be discussed and agreed upon at the next Jockeys and Industry Participants Committee Meeting to be held on May 31.

Eriksson did add that, “Our view is that riding vests are an essential piece of safety equipment and Racing Australia will not step back from equipment or processes that improve jockey and participant safety.

“There are differing opinions on the efficacy of vests in relation to different types of injuries with vests being particularly effective in crush type impacts,” said Eriksson.

It seems what Eriksson is saying is that there two sides to the argument … which are likely to both be firmly put into play … so his suggesting that a strategy might be wholly agreed upon on by May 31 meeting might be an optimistic assessment … unless, of course, it is going to be a very long meeting.

A compromise arrangement would probably be top of the betting boards … a refining of the vest makeup to suit both parties if a suitable design can be found.

Either way, you have to believe that, with all of the advancements that have been made since the jockey vest was first mandated in 1998, at very least, an update of some description to the design of the vest is well overdue.

Dr Lisa Giusti Gestri, an academic research assistant at Monash University, who has spent many years studying Australian jockey vests, has an educated, up to date viewpoint on the matter and she is in no doubt what has to happen next.

“The Australian Standards for the safety vest have not been updated since 1998,” she told Racenet.

“This has caused restrictions to bring in any kind of innovation to the vest that relates to new designs, new materials. Whatever you want to add or modify, you can’t.

“Now we have amazing materials and technology available. The standard needs to change. The jockeys are keen to evolve and try and test new prototypes, new materials, but it can’t be done while the standards are still stuck in 1998. The technology and innovation improves every day.”

Dr Lisa Giusti Gestri couldn’t have painted a clearer picture. The facts are there for all to see.

Having a review into the vests worn by jockeys is a start … but only a start.

What really matters in the end is the speed at which the review takes place and the action that follows off the back of that review.

We live in hope … but, until then, it is just noise.