Thumbs-up for apprentice day

JOCKEYS’ CHANCE TO SHINE AT REDCAR

- By PETER BARRON

THE official trade body representing jockeys has welcomed the staging of the north's first all-apprentice race meeting at Redcar.

Every race during Redcar’s popular Circus Family Fun Day this Sunday will be an apprentice race.

And the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) has given its support to the meeting for investing in the rising stars of the sport.

PJA executive director Dale Gibson, a former jockey himself, said: “The PJA very much supports these occasional apprentice cards.

“The fixture ties in with multiple participant welfare measures which have been introduced and expanded in recent years following PJA proposals, including extended code breaks and rider restricted meetings.