John Size to train on in Hong Kong

Image: Darren Winningham

In a rare change from established protocol the Hong Kong Jockey Club have opened the door for a license extension for John Size which will see the Australian born training ace become the first trainer to be allowed to train in the Hong Kong racing precinct beyond seventy years of age.

This decision is in stark contrast to the events of two years ago when champion trainer John Moore was forced to end his training career in Hong Kong because of the strict enforcement of the seventy years of age training limit rule.

Moore had already enjoyed a five-year extension and when the seventy-year-old marker came up, in spite of representations made to the Jockey Club by Moore and some major owners, any application for a further extension was rejected, reportedly on the basis of staying consistent with the protocol that was in place to cover that matter.

At the time, as reported in the Asian Racing Report, HKJC executive Andrew Harding said, “The Club made it clear towards the end of last season that the existing policy on age limits needs to be applied consistently and will be in the case of John Moore. I think it’s a matter of having set goalposts and then applying the policy consistently.”

Changing times … maybe … but, whatever the reason, clearly the goal posts have now been moved although the criteria for those who can apply for extensions beyond, firstly the sixty-five year old age checkpoint, and then on to the seventy-year-old checkpoint, are extremely limiting, with only a few trainers likely to qualify.

And the list noting the criteria is not a short list either. (*see below for the full details).

It is not a difficult decision for Size, an eleven-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer who is just a couple of days away from his sixty-eighth birthday, to take up the opportunity the new rules offer him.

“I’ve been here 20 years and it doesn’t feel like that,” Size told the South China Morning Post. “Time is the governor of all things, as we know, but as long as I can perform and contribute to the Jockey Club, I’ll endeavour to put all of my efforts into it.

“The idea is to carry on. I’ll do my best and keep going as long as circumstances allow. At the moment I feel fine, so we’ll keep going.

“I want to continue winning races. My performances are still good and that’s an indication that I’m still doing my job properly,” Size said. “I don’t intend to go home in the near future. I’ve got no plans of that. I’m going to keep doing my job in Hong Kong, win races and be very satisfied with that.”

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*From the Hong Kong Jockey Club website:

These are the criteria applicable to a trainer being eligible to continue to train beyond the age of 65 (changes shown in italics):-

a) Finished in the top 5 of the Club’s Trainers’ Championships at the conclusion of each of the three (3) racing seasons prior to reaching the age of 65; or

b) Finished in the top 5 prize-money earners in the Club’s Trainers’ Championship at the conclusion of each of the three (3) racing seasons prior to reaching the age of 65; or

c) Have won a Trainers’ Championship at the conclusion of any one (1) of the preceding three (3) racing seasons prior to reaching the age of 65; or

d) Have achieved a 3-year rolling average of no less than 4.0 individual Class 2 or above (including 4-YO series races) winners across the preceding three (3) racing seasons, plus either one of the following:

i. Won a Trainers’ Championship in any one (1) of the preceding five (5) racing seasons prior to reaching the age of 65; or

ii. Finished in the top 5 of the Club’s Trainers’ Championships (either number of winners or prize-money) at the conclusion of any one (1) of the preceding three (3) racing seasons prior to reaching the age of 65.

The Club also approved new criteria applicable for a trainer to be able to continue to train beyond the age of 70 (until the age of 73 subject to satisfying the continued performance monitoring criterion):

a) Has won multiple Training Championships in Hong Kong; and

b) Has achieved a 3-year rolling average of no less than four (4) individual Pattern Race (International Group races and 4YO series races) first three placings across the preceding three (3) racing seasons; and

c) i. Has finished in the top 5 of the Club’s Trainers’ Championships at the conclusion of each of the three (3) preceding racing seasons; or

ii. Has finished in the top 5 prize-money earners in the Club’s Trainers’ Championship at the conclusion of each of the three (3) preceding racing seasons.

For a trainer to further extend his licence beyond the age of 73 (until the age of 75):

a) Continue to have achieved a 3-year rolling average of no less than four (4) individual Pattern Race (International Group races and 4-YO series races) first three placings across the preceding three (3) racing seasons; and

b) Have achieved either one of the following:

i. Won a Trainer’s Championship in any one (1) of the three (3) racing seasons during the extension of trainer’s licence beyond the age of 70; or

ii. Have finished in the top 3 of the Club’s Trainers’ Championships (either number of winners or prize-money) at the conclusion of each of the three (3) racing seasons during the extension of trainer’s licence beyond the age of 70.

It is a basic requirement for any trainer who submits an application to train beyond the age of 65/70 that they must have been a “dual-site” trainer (Hong Kong/Conghua) for the preceding three (3) racing seasons.

The Licensing Committee would assess potentially eligible Trainers at least two seasons before they reach the age of 65/70 respectively. Any trainer who is granted an extension of licence beyond the age of 65/70 is required to continue to meet the relevant performance criteria for consecutive racing seasons including the racing season in which he reaches the respective age. Any failure to meet the requirements may result in the trainer not being granted a further licence.